PdSnW Ternary Alloy Nanoparticle with Excellent CO Anti-poisoning Activity for Boosting Alkaline Ethanol Oxidation Reaction

Efficient ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) catalysts with anti-poisoning ability and high selectivity are in high demand for the widespread application of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). Here, the PdSnW ternary alloy nanoparticles are synthesized by a facile solvothermal method and exhibit an enhanced EOR catalytic performance. CO stripping experiment, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in situ Fourier transform infrared are employed to study the correlation between catalyst structure and EOR catalytic performance. The oxyphilic Sn and W not only provide dangling O-H bond, accelerating the subsequent oxidation of adsorbed intermediate CO species, but also moderate the electron state of Pd, enhancing the adsorption of CH3CH2OH, thus resulting in the promotion of C-C bond cleavage and an increased C1 selectivity. As a consequence, PdSnW alloy nanoparticle catalyst exhibit a better stability and a higher mass activity than those of Pd/C, PdSn and PdW, respectively. This work not only offers novel insights to strategically design highly efficient electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation, but also further clarifies the inherent structure-activity relationship.