Preparation and Characterization of the PdW/MWCNT Anode Catalyst for Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

The tungsten modified Pd-based nanocatalyst for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media was prepared by an ethylene glycol reduction method, and the catalytic performances of the prepared catalysts were evaluated. The results show that the addition of tungsten improved the dispersion of metal nanoparticles on the support surface and thus increased the current density of Pd-based catalyst for ethanol electrooxidation. In addition, it was found that in the tungsten modified Pd-based catalyst, tungsten interacted with palladium, leading to a low onset potential and a decreased active energy for ethanol oxidation. On the other hand, it was also observed that the addition of tungsten improved the poison resistance of Pd-based catalysts for ethanol oxidation.