Methanol-Tolerant Pd-Co Alloy Nanoparticles on Reduced Graphene Oxide as Cathode Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction in Fuel Cells

The design of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts to replace Pt in an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for advancing proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technologies. This study synthesized Pd-Co bimetallic alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through a simple chemical-reduction method, making it suitable for low-cost, large-scale fabrication and significantly reducing the need for Pt. The nanostructures were systematically characterized using various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Electrochemical investigations revealed that the Pd-Co/rGO catalyst exhibits remarkable ORR performance in an alkaline environment, with an electrode-area-normalized activity rivaling that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Remarkably, Pd-Co/rGO demonstrated an onset potential (Eonset) of 0.944 V (vs. RHE) and a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.782 V (vs. RHE), highlighting its excellent ORR activity. Furthermore, the Pd-Co/rGO catalyst displayed superior methanol-tolerant ORR activity, outperforming Pt/C and monometallic Pd/rGO and Co/rGO systems. The enhanced electrocatalytic performance is attributed to the smallest size, consistent shape, and good dispersion of the alloy structure on the RGO surface. These findings establish Pd-Co/rGO as a promising alternative to Pt-based catalysts, addressing key challenges such as methanol crossover while advancing PEMFC technology in alkaline media.