Sustainable application of pecan nutshell waste: Greener synthesis of Pd-based nanocatalysts for electro-oxidation of methanol

Ana I. Casas Hidalgo, Manuel Román Aguirre, Edgar Valenzuela, José Y. Verde Gomez, Alejandro Camacho Dávila, Rajender S. Varma, Víctor H. Ramos Sánchez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Palladium-based electrocatalysts are widely used in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. The synthesis and characterization of carbon-supported bimetallic nanoparticles (NP) of AuPd and AgPd is described using pecan nutshell extract (Carya illinoinensis) which serves as both, reducing and the stabilizing agent. This environmentally friendly route generates bimetallic NP for a wide range of applications, including electrocatalysis; since particularly AuPd NP proved to be a potentially suitable electrode material for alkaline direct methanol fuel cells. The electrocatalytic activity of these nanomaterials was comparable to commercially available Pd/C 1% in the electro-oxidation of methanol in alkaline media.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)23329-23335
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume41
Issue number48
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 28 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alkaline methanol fuel cells
  • Bimetallic alloy
  • Green Au–Pd nanoparticles
  • Microwave-assisted synthesis
  • Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) shell extract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Fuel Technology
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sustainable application of pecan nutshell waste: Greener synthesis of Pd-based nanocatalysts for electro-oxidation of methanol'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this