Pd2Sn [010] nanorods as a highly active and stable ethanol oxidation catalyst

The development of highly active, low cost and stable electrocatalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells remains a critical challenge. While Pd2Sn has been reported as an excellent catalyst for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), here we present DFT analysis results showing the (100) and (001) facets of orthorhombic Pd2Sn to be more favourable for the EOR than (010). Accordingly, using tri-n-octylphosphine, oleylamine (OLA) and methylamine hydrochloride as size and shape directing agents, we produced colloidal Pd2Sn nanorods (NRs) grown in the [010] direction. Such Pd2Sn NRs, supported on graphitic carbon, showed excellent performance and stability as an anode electrocatalyst for the EOR in alkaline media, exhibiting 3 times and 10 times higher EOR current densities than that of Pd2Sn and Pd nanospheres, respectively. We associate this improved performance with the favourable faceting of the NRs.