Construction of palladium nanoparticles supported-poly(trypan blue) electro-catalyst towards ethanol oxidation

In the present study, the pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was modified with palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) decorated/poly(trypan blue) (PTB) using an electrochemical method for ethanol electro-oxidation. The characterization of fabricated PdNPs/PTB electrode was performed using several analysis methods including XRD, XPS, HRTEM, FESEM, and EDS. The results showed that PdNPs were homogeneously distributed on the surface of PTB and that they affected the oxidation reaction positively. Electrochemical activities for ethanol electro-oxidation were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry in an alkaline solution. PdNPs/PTB exhibited much higher electrocatalytic activity, stronger CO tolerance, and better stability in comparison to PTB produced using the same method. The electrocatalytic performance of PdNPs/PTB for different cycle numbers of PTB and different deposition times of PdNPs against ethanol oxidation were also investigated. The results showed that the PdNPs/PTB sample prepared after 30 cycles of PTB and with 5 min deposition time for PdNPs had exhibited the best electrocatalytic performance. With the unique structure of the resulting electrocatalyst, this study presents strong evidence for the successful application of a well-designed hierarchical structure for ethanol electro-oxidation in an alkaline environment. •Poly(trypan blue) was used as a conducted polymer on the surface of the PGE electrode.•The PTB surface was decorated with PdNPs through the simple electrochemical deposition method.•The PdNPs/PTB electrocatalysts were fabricated for the first time toward ethanol electrooxidation.•The electrocatalytic activity of PdNPs/PTB was calculated 182-times more enhanced than pristine PTB.