CN-modified montmorillonite as support to immobilize Pd and its enhanced electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation

Nature clay, i.e., montmorillonite (MMT), can be used as support materials of anode electrocatalyst in the direct formic acid fuel cell. The nitrogen-containing composite support (MMT-CN) was prepared via carbonizing MMT which was covered by polyaniline. Pd/MMT-CN and Pd/C catalysts were prepared as formic acid oxidation catalysts using an improved liquid reduction method. The composite, structure, surface properties, and electrical conductivity of the supports and catalysts were studied by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution of 3.5–5.5 nm could be easily prepared on the MMT-CN. Larger electrochemical specific area (ECSA) was obtained for Pd/MMT-CN than Pd/C according to CO-stripping voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) measurements showed better catalytic activity and stability of the Pd/MMT-CN catalyst than the conventional Pd/C catalyst for formic acid electrooxidation. Larger ECSA and doped nitrogen in the support of the Pd/MMT-CN catalyst may be the main reason of higher activity and better stability for formic acid oxidation compared with the Pd/C catalyst. The results offered potential application of composite support (MMT-CN) for the catalyst of the direct formic acid fuel cell.