LAUSR

Abstract The impact of ZSM-5 zeolite as a support material on the electrocatalytic activity of Pd nanoparticles for the oxidation of propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol has been investigated. ZSM-5‒carbon black composites with different ZSM-5/C mass ratios, carbon black, and ZSM-5 are used as supports for the Pd nanoparticles. The structures of catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analyses. The ZSM-5‒C composites significantly improve the catalytic activity of the Pd nanoparticles for the oxidation of propan-1-ol. In a wide range of ZSM-5/C mass ratios, the Pd/ZSM-5‒C catalysts exhibit considerably higher activities than Pd/C and Pd/ZSM-5, indicating that the ZSM-5‒C composites are superior to carbon black and ZSM-5 as supports for the Pd nanoparticles. The result reveals that efficient electrocatalysts could be fabricated using zeolites as support materials. In contrast, Pd/ZSM-5‒C shows no advantages over Pd/C in the oxidation of propan-2-ol in catalytic activity, suggesting the importance of matching catalyst with reaction to obtain good results.