Carbon Nanofibers as Advanced Pd Catalyst Supports for the Air Electrode of Alkaline Metal-Air Batteries

Carbon nanofibers are investigated as a support for Pd catalysts. The electrochemical behavior of these catalysts for both the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions is investigated in a half-cell configuration in alkaline solution (6 M KOH) at room temperature. The catalysts are compared with an internal benchmark consisting of Pd supported on Vulcan. Stress tests are also performed to assess the stability of the catalysts under the highly corrosive conditions occurring at the positive electrode, especially during oxygen evolution (high potential). Pd catalysts supported on carbon nanofibers show promising stability characteristics for applications as bifunctional oxygen catalysts in metal-air batteries.