Efficient electro-catalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol using flower-like graphitic carbon nitride/iron oxide/palladium nanocomposite for fuel cell application

The design and development of highly efficient and environmental-friendly methods for the synthesis of electro-catalysts are highly significant for fuel cell applications. Herein, we demonstrate a facile technique for the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride/iron oxide/palladium nanoparticles (g-C₃N₄/Fe₂O₃/PdNPs) composite towards efficient electro-catalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol. g-C₃N₄/Fe₂O₃/PdNPs nanocomposite was prepared using a one-step simultaneous electrochemical co-deposition process. The electro-deposition was performed on a single-disk carbon screen-printed electrode (SPE) under acidic electrolyte solution containing g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, and palladium chloride as precursors. The structural and elemental composition of the electrochemically fabricated g-C₃N₄/Fe₂O₃/PdNPs nanocomposites modified SPE was investigated using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques and the results indicated that three-dimensional nanoflower-like Fe₂O₃ and spherical shaped PdNPs were electro-deposited on the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets to form the nanocomposite. The voltammetric behavior of the developed g-C₃N₄/Fe₂O₃/PdNPs/SPE showed excellent electro-catalytic response towards ethylene glycol and superior electro-oxidation with high durability when compared to commercial Pd/C and other recently reported electro-catalyst materials. Therefore, the proposed g-C₃N₄/Fe₂O₃/PdNPs nanocomposite is proved to be an efficient electro-catalyst and can be highly suitable for direct alcohol fuel cell applications.