Improving the electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation of bimetallic Ir-Zn nanoparticles decorated on graphene nanoplatelets

A graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-supported Ir-Zn catalyst (Ir-Zn/GNP) was fabricated by H2 reduction to discover an alternative for non-platinum and non-palladium catalysts as an anode catalyst in direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC). The obtained Ir-Zn/GNP catalyst with ratio of Ir:Zn = 50:50 (Ir50Zn50/GNP) exhibited better electrocatalytic activity than GNP-supported iridium catalyst (Ir/GNP) for formic acid oxidation. Although the oxidation peak current density of Ir50Zn50/GNP was slightly lower than that of Ir/GNP, the oxidation peak potential shifted more negatively (193 mV) than Ir/GNP with higher value of the ratio of forward scan to reverse the scan peak current (If/Ib). The presence of Zn also enhanced the power density and current generation with increased performance stability in a passive DFAFC cell tests. The improvement of the electrochemical performance was ascribed to the ensemble effect where the addition of Zn could modify the Ir atom arrangement, thereby promoting the oxidation through dehydrogenation pathway. However, extremely high Zn content would inhibit oxidation capability because Zn atoms might reduce the Ir catalytic sites. A new alternative for non-Pt and non-Pd anode catalysts for DFAFC applications was successfully achieved.