Investigation of Hydrazine Electrooxidation Performance of Carbon Nanotube Supported Pd Monometallic Direct Hydrazine Fuel Cell Anode Catalysts

Abstract

In this study, carbon nanotube (CNT) supported Pd/CNT catalysts at varying Pd molar ratios (Pd involving among 0.1-20 wt %) are prepared via NaBH4 reduction method. The surface of catalysts prepared for hydrazine electrooxidation are successfully characterized via N2 adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Electrochemical measurements are performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. According to the characterization results, for 5% Pd/CNT catalyst, the average particle size and the surface area are determined as 5.17 nm and 773.10 m2 g-1, respectively. Among Pd containing (0.1-20 wt %) CNT supported catalysts, 5%Pd/CNT catalyst exhibits the best current density as 6.81 mA cm-2 (1122.63 mA mg-1 Pd). Furthermore, 5% Pd/CNT catalyst shows the best charge transfer resistance (Rct) compared to Pd/CNT catalysts. Pd/CNT catalysts are promising anode catalysts for direct hydrazine fuel cells.