Electrooxidation of ethanol on silver-reduced graphene oxide (Ag/rGO) surface – Effect of alloying with palladium

The study examined the impact of alloying palladium (Pd) with silver-reduced graphene oxide (AgrGO) nanocomposites on ethanol electrooxidation. The electrocatalysts were synthesised using wet chemical method and characterized using conventional spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The Pd₁Ag₁rGO composite demonstrated superior performance compared to Pd₂Ag₁rGO and AgrGO, attributed to its relatively smaller particle size of 5.3 nm, which enhances catalytic activity, a higher density of defects for better electron transfer, and improved electrochemical properties. It achieved an impressive exchange current density of 1.70 µA cm⁻², indicating rapid reaction kinetics, alongside lower charge transfer resistance. This research highlights the potential of Pd₁/Ag₁-rGO nanocomposites as an alternative to platinum electrocatalyst for efficient ethanol oxidation, supporting advancements in sustainable fuel cell technologies.