Enhanced electrocatalytic performance of palladium nanoparticles with high energy surfaces in formic acid oxidation

Abstract

Direct formic acid fuel cells hold great potential for utilizing formic acid as an energy source via formic acid oxidation (FAO). We report a new anodic material composed of branched Pd nanoparticles (BNPs) with enhanced performance for the electrocatalytic FAO reaction. The results of computational studies indicate that the surface morphology of the nanoparticles favours the binding of FAO intermediates while allowing for field-induced reagent concentration (FIRC) at sharp tips leading to amplified catalytic activity and improved stability. Our findings highlight the importance of morphological control of high-energy surfaces for effective fuel cell anodes.