摘要
In this work, tungsten carbide (WC) embedded onto ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) is used as the support of Pd nanoparticles for electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid. The WC loaded OMCs was prepared via a hard template route. Pd nanoparticles were then deposited on the support by a modified ethylene glycol reduction. The obtained catalysts were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N-2 adsorption-desorption and electrochemical measurements. It is found that the composite of WC nanoparticles loaded OMCs maintains the highly ordered mesoporous structure of the template. Although the Pd/OMCs and Pd-WC/OMCs catalysts have a similar Pd particle size, the latter exhibits an enhanced electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation in comparison with the Pd/OMCs and commercial Pd/C catalysts, suggesting a promotion effect of Pd nanoparticles by WC. The improved electrocatalytic performance of formic acid oxidation on the Pd-WC/OMCs may be ascribed to a synergistic effect between Pd nanoparticles, the WC component, and to the structural effect of the OMCs.
