Microenvironment effects in electrocatalysis: ionic-liquid-like coating on carbon nanotubes enhances the Pd-electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation.

A new catalyst consisting of ionic liquid (IL)-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) obtained through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition support-enhanced electrocatalytic Pd nanoparticles (Pd@IL(Cl(-))-CNTs) was successfully fabricated and applied in direct ethanol alkaline fuel cells. The morphology, structure, component and stability of Pd@IL(Cl(-))-CNTs were systematic characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The new catalyst exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity, better tolerance and electrochemical stability than the Pd nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on CNTs (Pd@CNTs), which was ascribed to the effects of the IL, larger electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), and greater processing performance. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) at various scan rates illustrated that the oxidation behaviors of ethanol at all electrodes were controlled by diffusion processes. The investigation of the different counteranions demonstrated that the performance of the IL-CNTs hybrid material was profoundly influenced by the subtly varied structures of the IL moiety. All the results indicated that the Pd@IL(Cl(-))-CNTs catalyst is an efficient anode catalyst, which has potential applications in direct ethanol fuel cells and the strategy of IL functionalization of CNTs could be available to prepare other carbonaceous carrier supports to enhance the dispersivity, stability, and catalytic performance of metal NPs as well.