Three-Dimensional PdPbBi Nanoalloy-Embedded Reduced Graphene Oxide/CPM-5 Prismatic Composite as High-Efficiency Electrocatalysts for Ethylene Glycol Oxidation

Fuel cell development is of paramount importance given the excessive consumption of fossil fuels and severe environmental pollution problems. A 3D prismatic electrocatalyst with PdPbBi nanoalloys supported on rGO/CPM-5 (crystalline porous materials) (PdPbBi@rGO/CPM-5) is synthesized by a facile hydrothermal and reduction method. Electrochemical tests show that the trimetallic catalyst exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and high resistance to CO poisoning compared to commercial Pd/C. Specifically, PdPbBi@rGO/CPM-5 has the highest forward current density of 222.43 mA cm–2, which is 8.22 times that of Pd/C (27.07 mA cm–2), and the retained current density of PdPbBi@rGO/CPM-5 still reaches 71.21% of the initial value after a 3600 s chronoamperometry test. This excellent electrocatalytic activity is due to the electronic effect of the PdPbBi alloy, resulting in the enhanced d-band of Pd and the strong adsorption of OH– by Pb/PbO and Bi/Bi(OH)3 nanoparticles (NPs). This intermetallic electronic effect can promote the oxidative removal of [CO]ads. In addition, the unique graphene-wrapped prismatic structure of rGO/CPM-5 makes the PdPbBi alloy NPs evenly distributed and obtains more active centers to accelerate electro-oxidation. The design and high-efficiency electrocatalytic performance of this composite material provide important ideas for the development and utilization of direct fuel cells for ethylene glycol oxidation reaction.