High-performance Pd nanocatalysts based on the novel N-doped Ti3C2 support for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

In this article, the novel N-doped Ti3C2 support Pd-based catalyst (Pd/N-Ti3C2-28 h) is successfully prepared by suitable HF-etching and NH3.H2O doping, which possess the conspicuous lamellar morphology and uniform metal Pd distribution. The Pd/N-Ti3C2-28 h with N-doping has the higher content of Pd (~5.33 at%) than that of without N-doping (~1.38 at%) under the same mass of Pd loading. Being explored as the catalyst for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium, the Pd/N-Ti3C2-28 h catalyst exhibits the higher electrochemically active surface areas, ethanol oxidated current densities (~36.71 mA.cm−2) and electrochemical stability than those of the Pd/Ti3C2-28 h, the other Pd/N-Ti3C2 catalysts with different HF-etching time (20,24 and 32 h), and the commercial Pd/C (j = ~12.73 mA.cm−2). Such excellent electrocatalytic performance can be ascribed to synergy of obvious layer-structure of the Ti3C2 support and the NH3.H2O doping, which lead to the higher binding energy and more electron transfer of the metal Pd and Ti3C2, thereby improving the Pd loading on the Ti3C2. And the current densities after 200 redox cycles of Pd/Ti3C2-28 h can retain 78.3% of the maximum capacity, demonstrating the high cycle stability. Thus, the Pd/N-Ti3C2-28 h can become the potential candidates as the anode catalyst for the ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium.