Ethanol electro-oxidation activity of Nb-doped-TiO ₂ supported PdAg catalysts in alkaline media

Various mesoporous Nb-doped titania materials were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and examined as catalyst support for PdAg alloy particles for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell (ADEFC). X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to investigate the properties of the supports and catalysts. 700°C was found as the optimal activation temperature for Nb-doped TiO ₂ due to the high electronic conductivity achievement and mesoporosity conservation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that Nb _xTi _1-xO ₂ had a structure of mixed anatase and rutile phases. PdAg/Nb _xTi _1-xO ₂ exhibited excellent performance for the electrooxidation of ethanol and higher durability in alkaline solution compared with PdAg/C and PdAg/commercial TiO ₂. The results open a new way to develop durable and effective electrocatalysts for ADEFC.