LAUSR

Abstract Urge for an alternative energy source demands the development of cost effective highly efficient catalyst for fuel cell applications. Transition metal phosphates are emerging as a novel class of material for many potential electrochemical applications owing its several advantages like abundance, environmental friendliness and low cost. Herein we explore the excellent electro chemical property of nickel phosphate (NP) as an electrocatalyst for alcohol oxidation. Novel vulcan carbon supported Pd @NP was synthesized through a very simple method at room temperature. In the presence of NP well dispersed homogeneous Pd particles having reduced size was observed. Approximately, seven-fold increments in the catalytic efficiency towards methanol oxidation and three fold increments towards ethanol oxidation than vulcan carbon supported pure Pd were achieved. The improved electrochemical property and increased surface area by the combination of Pd with nickel phosphorous compound and supporting carbon material imparted an excellent catalytic efficiency to the synthesized catalyst.