Electrocatalytic behavior of a mixed catalyst PdCu/Ag synthesized using electrochemical co-deposition and galvanic displacement

In this work, a three-component catalyst PdCu/Ag is synthesized using the partial galvanic displacement of copper by silver from the PdCu deposit (~24 at.% Cu) prepared using the electrochemical co-deposition of Pd and Cu (Au support, 0.5 M H₂SO₄). The composite is characterized by a variety of methods. It is shown that during the galvanic displacement, both Cu and Pd are displaced by silver. The PdCu/Ag catalyst demonstrates higher specific (~twofold) and mass activity (~70-fold) in the reaction of formic acid electrooxidation (FAOR) as compared with individual Pd deposits. The possible factors responsible for the higher Pd activity in the presence of both incorporated Cu and Ag are discussed.