Page 31 - Book of Abstracts

th
8 Biannual Conference on Chemistry - CHEM 08

Fabrication of a Binary FeOx/Pd Nanoparticle-modified

Anodic Catalyst for Efficient Formic Acid Electro-oxidation

Heba H. Farrag , Islam M. Al-Akraa , Nageh K. Allam , Ahmad M. Mohammad *
1
1,
2
3
1 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo 12613,
Egypt. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The
2
British University in Egypt, Cairo 11837, Egypt. Energy Materials Laboratory,
3
School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New
Cairo 11835, Egypt.
Email: hhamdy@sci.cu.edu.eg
ABSTRACT
In order to utilize the formic acid fuel cell commercially, the inexpensive material with
higher catalytic efficiency is required. The modification of a glassy carbon (GC) with a
binary catalyst composed of palladium (Pd) and iron oxide (FeOx) nanoparticles was
suggested for formic acid electro-oxidation (FAEO). The deposition sequence of Pd and
FeOx nanoparticles on the GC electrode and the loading level of FeOx were adjusted in
order to reach the maximum catalytic efficiency toward FAEO. In addition, the effect of
catalyst's activation (at ‒0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode in aqueous 0.2 M NaOH
solution for 10 min) on the catalytic activity and stability were examined. The highest
catalytic efficiency was obtained by electrodeposition of Pd nanoparticles directly on the
GC electrode followed by FeOx nanoparticles. The enhancement was revealed from the
increase of the oxidation peak current of FAEO with a long-termed improvement in its
stability. Although the activation step did not inspire a further enhancement in the
catalytic activity, it improved intensively the catalyst's stability; recommending the
catalyst for a rapid commercial industrialization. To investigate the surface morphology,
the elemental composition and the crystal structure of the prepared catalysts, field
emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
(EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were all employed, respectively.
References:
1) Farrag HH, Abbas AA, Sayed SY, Alalawy HH, El-Anadouli BE, Mohammad AM, Allam NK:
From Rusting to Solar Power Plants: A Successful Nano-Pattering of Stainless Steel 316L for
Visible Light-Induced Photoelectrocatalytic Water Splitting. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2018,
6:17352-17358.
2) Al-Qodami BA, Farrag HH, Sayed SY, Allam NK, El-Anadouli BE, Mohammad AM:
Bifunctional tailoring of platinum surfaces with earth abundant iron oxide nanowires for
boosted formic acid electro-oxidation. J Nanotechnol 2018, 2018.
3) Mohammad AM, Al-Akraa IM, El-Deab MS: Superior electrocatalysis of formic acid electro-
oxidation on a platinum, gold and manganese oxide nanoparticle-based ternary catalyst. Int J
Hydrogen Energy 2018, 43:139-149.
4) Al-Akraa IM, Ohsaka T, Mohammad AM: A promising amendment for water splitters:
Boosted oxygen evolution at a platinum, titanium oxide and manganese oxide hybrid catalyst.
Arab J Chem 2019, 12:897-907.
5) Al-Akraa IM, Mohammad AM: A spin-coated TiOx/Pt nanolayered anodic catalyst for the
direct formic acid fuel cells. Arab J Chem 2019, in
Press:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2019.1010.1013.
6) Al-Akraa IM, Asal YM, Mohammad AM: Facile synthesis of a tailored-designed AU/PT
nanoanode for enhanced formic acid, methanol, and ethylene glycol electrooxidation. J
Nanomater 2019, 2019.

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