Self-standing three-dimensional PdAu nanoflowers for plasma-enhanced photo-electrocatalytic methanol oxidation with a CO-free dominant mechanism

Xiaoxiao Huang; Zhi-Long He; Yangpeng Chen; Qiyan Xu; Mingshan Zhu; Chunyang Zhai

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.108

Self-standing three-dimensional PdAu nanoflowers for plasma-enhanced photo-electrocatalytic methanol oxidation with a CO-free dominant mechanism

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2022 Nov:625:850-858. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.108. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Authors

Xiaoxiao Huang¹, Zhi-Long He¹, Yangpeng Chen¹, Qiyan Xu², Mingshan Zhu³, Chunyang Zhai⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China.
² School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Manshan 243032, PR China. Electronic address: qiyan.xu@163.com.
³ Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China.
⁴ School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China. Electronic address: zhaichunyang@nbu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35779520
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.108

Abstract

Precise design of high efficacious catalysts and the insight into the mechanism for photo-electrocoupling catalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) are two major issues for the development and practical application of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Herein, a novel self-standing three-dimensional nanosheet assembly PdAu nanoflower with local surface plasmon resonance effect is fabricated to acquire excellent catalytic performance and explore the photo-electrocatalytic mechanism for MOR. Interestingly, the Pd₁Au₁ nanoflower electrocatalyst exhibits superior mass activity than pure Pd and Pd/C catalysts thanks to the abundant active sites and efficacious charge transfer. Further on, with the assistance of LSPR effect, the catalytic activity for MOR of Pd₁Au₁ catalyst (4179.04 mA mg^-1_Pd) under visible light illumination achieved 2.41-fold than dark conditions (1731.42 mA mg^-1_Pd). Moreover, the long-term durability of Pd₁Au₁ catalysts with visible light is also improved compare to dark condition and other mentioned Pd catalyst. More significantly, a photo-electrocoupling CO-free dominant mechanism is proposed to in-depth understand the promotion of catalytic activity and durability for MOR. This contribution provides the rational design of plasma-enhanced high-effective photo-electrocatalyst and reveals a CO-free dominant MOR mechanism for the progress of future liquid direct fuel cells.

Keywords: CO-free dominant mechanism; LSPR effect; PdAu nanoflowers; Photo-electrocatalytic methanol oxidation.