Pd/C, Au/C and PdAu/C electrocatalysts with different atomic ratios prepared using electron beam irradiation were tested for glycerol electrooxidation in single alkaline direct glycerol fuel cell (ADGFC). X-ray diffractograms (XRD) of PdAu/C electrocatalysts showed the presence of Pd (fcc) and Au (fcc) phases. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry showed that PdAu/C electrocatalyst with Pd:Au atomic ratio of 50:50 demonstrated superior activity for glycerol electrooxidation, at room temperature. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy by attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR) experiments were performed for the electrocatalysts, identifying oxalate, glycerate ion, 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone, glyceraldehyde and glycolate as products of glycerol electrooxidation. Experiments with single ADGFC were carried out from 50 to 90 ºC, using Pd/C electrocatalyst; the best performance was obtained at 80 ºC.
alkaline fuel cell; glycerol; Pd/C; PdAu/C; electrocatalysts
