Boosting the electrocatalytic activity of ZrO2/MWCNT supported PdPt bi-metallic electrocatalyst towards ethanol oxidation reaction by electrochemical activation process and modeling by artificial neural network approach

Dabirifar Z., Khadempir S., Kardan A., KARAMAN C.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design, cilt.180, ss.38-49, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 180
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.cherd.2022.02.009
  • Dergi Adı: Chemical Engineering Research and Design
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Communication Abstracts, Environment Index, Greenfile, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.38-49
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Electrochemical activation, Ethanol oxidation reaction, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Multi-walled carbon nanotube, PdPt alloy nanocatalysts, Zirconium dioxide
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

© 2022 Institution of Chemical EngineersThe cornerstone for improving the performance of direct-ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) is to engineer highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts, however, there are still numerous hurdles to overcome. The PdPt bimetallic alloys have long gotten considerable interest as to be the most promising electrocatalysts for DEFCs, yet the ways to boost their electrocatalytic activity are still needed to be investigated comprehensively. Herein, it was aimed to boost the electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability of PdPt electrocatalyst towards ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), besides forecasting the performance of the catalyst by means of the artificial neural network (ANN) approach. In this regard, zirconium dioxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube (ZrO2/MWCNT) nanohybrid composite was employed as catalyst support to fine-tune the electrical conductivity, enlarge the electrochemically active surface area, and besides oxidize the adsorbed toxic intermediate species on the catalyst surface for preventing poisoning. Moreover, an electrochemical activation approach was implemented to augment the electrocatalytic activity of PdPt-ZrO2MWCNT nanohybrid electrocatalyst. The physicochemical characterizations including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and transmission electron microspopy, it was confirmed that the PdPt-ZrO2/MWCNT nanohybrid was successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal approach. The electrochemical characterizations in alkaline media suggested that the activation process could significantly improve (ca.200-fold increment in cathodic peak current compared to non-activated one) the electrocatalytic activity of nanohybrid electrocatalyst towards EOR. Moreover, the findings revealed that thanks to its synergistic effect, the activated- PdPt-ZrO2/MWCNT nanohybrid was of great potential to be utilized as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Moreover, artificial neural networks model indicated performance of PdPt-ZrO2/MWCNT nanohybrid as the most suitable catalyst for HER. This research potentially paves the way for the engineering of high-performance carbon composite supported bimetallic nanohybrid electrocatalysts to be exploited in large-scale energy applications.