Pd‐Supported <scp>CoZn</scp>‐<scp>MOF</scp> as a Potential Electrocatalyst for Electro Oxidation of Butanol in Alkaline Media

ABSTRACT In direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs), long‐chain alcohols like butanol have gained attention over the past decade as a substitute for gasoline due to their higher energy density and reduced membrane crossover compared to short‐chain alcohols such as methanol and ethanol. Although limited research has been explored on the oxidation of butanol compared to that of methanol and ethanol. In the present work, a bimetallic organic framework (CoZn‐MOF) was employed to disperse Pd nanoparticles and was utilized for the first time for butanol oxidation in basic media. The CoZn‐MOF was synthesized through the coprecipitation method, followed by electrodeposition of Pd nanoparticles onto the nanocomposite. The as‐prepared catalyst material was characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD, and FT‐IR analysis. Electrochemical analysis, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometric studies, revealed that the Pd@CoZn‐MOF/GCE showed outstanding electrocatalytic performance, higher current density (0.01895 A cm −2 ), excellent stability (350 cycles) and durability (3000 s), and strong resistance to catalytic poisoning from carbonaceous species during butanol electro‐oxidation, which is due to the effective synergy between CoZn‐MOF and Pd nanoparticles, which enhances electron transfer. The findings proved that the newly developed electro‐catalyst is a promising alternative to traditional Pt‐based catalysts in DACs.