Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Ultrafine PdMo Alloy Nanowires Enhance Oxygen Reduction in Zinc-Air Batteries

Strategic Insights -

Research at Qingdao University of Science and Technology has led to the discovery of ultrafine PdMo alloy nanowires that exhibit exceptional oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and stability in zinc-air batteries. The nanowires demonstrate a 9.2-fold increase in mass activity and a 6.9-fold increase in specific activity compared to a commercial nanosized Pt/C. The zinc-air battery with the PdMo NWs cathode achieves a peak power density of 214.8 mW cm and remains stable in a 160 h durability test.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ultrafine PdMo alloy nanowires exhibit outstanding ORR activity and stability in both half cells and zinc-air batteries.
  • The mass activity (1.08mAmg) and specific activity (1.74 mA cm) of PdMo NWs are 9.2 and 6.9 times higher than that of a commercial nanosized Pt/C, respectively.
  • The introduction of Mo significantly downshifts the d-band center of Pd, inhibiting excessive adsorption of oxygen intermediates, thereby accelerating the ORR processes.
  • DFT calculations and in-situ electrochemical Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy characterization provide direct spectroscopic evidence for alleviated adsorption of oxygen intermediates on PdMo surfaces.
  • The researchers concluded that this work demonstrates a 1D ultrafine Pd-based alloy nanowire as an effective and robust electrocatalyst for the ORR.
  • The study has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science.
  • The researchers, led by Huaifang Teng, are from the Electrocatalysis & Nanomaterial Laboratory at Qingdao University of Science and Technology.
  • The research was publish in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science and can be contacted via Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science.

Statistics:

  • The peak power density of the zinc-air battery with the PdMo NWs cathode is 214.8 mW cm.
  • The zinc-air battery remains stable in a 160 h durability test.
  • The mass activity of PdMo NWs is 1.08mAmg.
  • The specific activity of PdMo NWs is 1.74 mA cm.
  • The PdMo NWs demonstrate a 9.2-fold increase in mass activity and a 6.9-fold increase in specific activity compared to a commercial nanosized Pt/C.

Sources:

  • Ultrafine PdMo alloy nanowires mitigate excessive oxygen adsorption to enhance oxygen reduction in Zn-air batteries. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2025;699:138273.
  • Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Colloid and Interface Science - www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-colloid-and-interface-science/)
  • Huaifang Teng, Electrocatalysis & Nanomaterial Laboratory, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, People's Republic of China.