Operando study of alloy formation in Au-Pd Nanoparticle catalysts for Formic Acid Oxidation

PdAu alloys are promising catalysts for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). This project aims to understand the formation of surface alloys from Au-Pd/C nanocomposite catalysts. We have developed a simple, straightforward approach for electrochemical in situ preparation of alloy nanoparticles from nanocomposites using monometallic, colloidal nanoparticles as starting blocks. Based on varying metal mass ratios (Pd:Au), different composites were prepared as formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) catalysts. Comparing different Pd-Au alloy nanoparticles prepared by a laser ablation method with the in situ formed alloy nanoparticles from nanocomposites, we will investigate if the latter approach is suitable for preparing stable surface alloys, limiting the use of the critical raw materials (CRM). The catalysts will be exposed to different FAOR protocols, during which operando XRD / XAS measurements are performed.