Pd/TiO₂ decorated carbon fibers as an efficient anode catalyst for methanol electro‐oxidation

In this study, Pd/TiO 2 decorated carbon nanofibers (Pd/TiO 2 @CNFs) and Pd@CNFs were prepared by the impregnation method for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Pd and TiO 2 particles were supported on the surface of carbon fibers. Noticeably, When the mass fraction of PdCl 2 added is 4%, the Pd@CNFs catalyst (Pd‐4@CNFs) showed higher electrocatalytic activity and stability, which were about 28.4 and 13.2 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C catalyst, respectively. On the basis of Pd‐4@CNFs catalyst, TiO 2 with a mass fraction of 10% was added to produce Pd/TiO 2 @CNFs catalyst (Pd‐4/TiO 2 ‐10@CNFs). The electrocatalytic activity of Pd‐4/TiO 2 ‐10@CNFs increased to 3,850.4 A·g −1 , which was 31.9 times higher than that of commercial Pd/C catalysts. These results demonstrated that the novel Pd/TiO 2 @CNFs catalyst is expected to be an efficient and durable catalyst for DMFC.