Effect of stabilizer agent type on the characteristics of Pd–Ni nanoparticles deposited on reduced graphene oxide as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

With the scarcity of platinum, Pd–Ni impregnated on reduced graphene oxide as an alternative has been synthesized and characterized. This research has the aim of investigating the effects of adding stabilizer agents to metallic-rGO as oxygen reduction reaction catalysts. The metal-rGO catalyst without stabilizer revealed that Pd-rGO had the highest surface area and conductivity of 52.39 m² g⁻¹ and 18.30 S m⁻¹, while the H–Pd–Ni-rGO catalyst had the surface area and conductivity of 18.80 m² g⁻¹ and 8.28 S m⁻¹. These two values together have an impact on the ORR capacity to feed water and export electrons via catalysis and oxygen adsorption, thus impacting the ORR capacity to emigrate electrons as well as its capacity to produce water through oxygen adsorption and catalysis. Although Pd-rGO has higher surface area, conductivity, and n transfer value, H–Pd–Ni-rGO catalyst is the best electrocatalyst due to more stability provided by the HMTA stabilizer by retaining the energy density with the same applied potential even after 2000 cycles, indicating H–Pd–Ni-rGO catalyst is better for long-term use.

Graphical abstract