Facile synthesis of PdNi alloy nanoparticles as a bifunctional catalyst for oxidation of alcohols

Palladium-based catalysts play a significant part in both the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). A contemporary strategy involves augmenting the stability and mass activity of palladium through alloying with alternative metallic elements. In this study, bimetallic Pd Ni alloy nanoparticles were effectively created and loaded onto carboxyl-modified carbon nanotubes through a reduction method. The addition of nickel modifies palladium's electrical configuration, while the formation of Ni (OH) 2 enhances palladium's resistance to poisoning. Optimal catalytic efficiency was achieved of Pd 1 Ni 2 /CNTs, resulting in an electrochemical mass activity of 2954 mA mg −1 Pd for MOR, which is a 3.43-fold improvement over the commercial Pd/C catalyst. For EOR, an electrochemical mass activity of 2295 mA mg −1 Pd was attained, indicating a 1.86-fold enhancement over commercial Pd/C catalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that forming a palladium‑nickel alloy causes a decline in Gibbs free energy for both EOR and MOR reactions.