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Pd/PANI/C Nanocomposites as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Media

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Abstract

We have synthesized polyaniline/carbon black-supported Pd nanoparticle composites (Pd/PANI/C) that show comparable activity and durability for ORR compared with Pd/C in alkaline solution. The HR-TEM images show that the Pd nanoparticles were more evenly distributed on the surface of the PANI/C than those on Pd/C. The activity of Pd/PANI/C catalyst for ORR depends on the ratio of PANI/C and the best activity occurs at ratio of 1:2, followed by 1:1 and 1:3. The four-electron reduction is more favorable on PPC2 (1:2) than other catalysts. The high performance of the Pd/PANI/C is attributed to the synergistic effect between PANI and carbon. And the results indicated incorporation of certain amounts of PANI into the Pd/C catalyst can prevent Pd nanoparticle agglomerations and maintain properties of the catalyst for ORR in alkaline medium.

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Acknowledgements

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Research Foundation-Professional Development Programme (NRF-PDP) provided financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Mphoma S. Matseke, Tshimangadzo S. Munonde & Haitao Zheng

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P O Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa

    Mphoma S. Matseke & Kaushik Mallick

  3. Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    Tshimangadzo S. Munonde

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  1. Mphoma S. Matseke
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Matseke, M.S., Munonde, T.S., Mallick, K. et al. Pd/PANI/C Nanocomposites as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Media. Electrocatalysis 10, 436–444 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12678-019-00536-3

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