Atomic Layer Deposition Preparation of Pd Nanoparticles on a Porous Carbon Support for Alcohol Oxidation

To reduce the loading of noble metals on fuel cell catalysts a synthesis method providing evenly distributed nanoparticles on the support surface is needed. Narrow size distribution palladium nanoparticles were prepared on a porous carbon support by atomic layer deposition (ALD), and their activity for ethanol and isopropanol oxidation was studied electrochemically in alkaline media. Palladium particles had smaller average particle sizes on the support material resulting in ∼50 mV lower onset potential and 2.5 times higher mass activity for alcohol oxidation compared with a commercial catalyst. The results indicate that the use of ALD allows the preparation of a noble metal nanoparticle catalyst, and this catalyst can provide similar mass activity with lower catalyst loading than current commercial fuel cell catalysts. This would significantly reduce the cost of the cell and provide a competitive advantage compared with other power sources.