Pd/TiO2 decorated carbon fibers as an efficient anode catalyst for methanol electro-oxidation

In this study, Pd/TiO2 decorated carbon nanofibers (Pd/TiO2@CNFs) and Pd@CNFs were prepared by the impregnation method for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Pd and TiO2 particles were supported on the surface of carbon fibers. Noticeably, When the mass fraction of PdCl2 added is 4%, the Pd@CNFs catalyst (Pd-4@CNFs) showed higher electrocatalytic activity and stability, which were about 28.4 and 13.2 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C catalyst, respectively. On the basis of Pd-4@CNFs catalyst, TiO2 with a mass fraction of 10% was added to produce Pd/TiO2@CNFs catalyst (Pd-4/TiO2-10@CNFs). The electrocatalytic activity of Pd-4/TiO2-10@CNFs increased to 3,850.4 A<middle dot>g(-1), which was 31.9 times higher than that of commercial Pd/C catalysts. These results demonstrated that the novel Pd/TiO2@CNFs catalyst is expected to be an efficient and durable catalyst for DMFC.