Bimetallic NiWO₄ as an Efficient Interface Modulator for Pd Towards Enhanced Alcohol Electro-oxidation

The electronic coupling effect by interfacial engineering between noble metal and transition metal tungstates is considered an effective strategy for improving electrocatalytic activity. Herein we introduced a new hybrid electrocatalyst consisting of Pd nanoparticle supported on NiWO₄ nanocrystals modified carbon for efficient alcohol electro-oxidation reaction. Bimetallic oxide resulted as an efficient interface modulator for Pd over mono metallic oxides. The synthesised catalyst, Pd over nickel tungstate modified Vulcan, exhibited well-dispersed homogeneous Pd particles. The catalytic effectiveness for the electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol was found to be enhanced around ten times (1202.48 mA/mg_Pd) and six times (1508.24 mA/mg_Pd), respectively compared to Pd deposited over C catalyst. The enhanced electrochemical property owing to electronic modification and improved surface area, by the strong coupling of Pd with nickel tungstate and carbon support conferred excellent catalytic performance for the synthesised catalyst.