Palladium-based electrocatalysts due to factors such as less palladium poising by produced carbon monoxide compared to platinum, more abundance and lower price have received much attention in recent years. One of the most effective way to increase the rate of ethanol oxidation reaction is using the bimetallic and trimetallic of palladium-based alloy. One of the noble-metals that can be used for palladium alloying in ethanol oxidation reaction is tin. In this study, first Pd/rGO and Pd 0.8 Sn 0.2 /rGO electrocatalysts were prepared with 30% by weights of substrate by chemical reduction method. Then, the catalytic and electrochemical activity of two catalysts were compared. The results of electrochemical measurements showed that Pd 0.8 Sn 0.2 /rGO electrocatalyst is more active than Pd/rGO in the ethanol oxidation reaction and compared with the formation of the reduction products and is also more suitable for use in a direct alcohol fuel cell. The electrocatalysts were tested using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and chronoamperometry (CHA) analysis. Onset potential for Pd/rGO was seen at -0.5V and for Pd 0.8 Sn 0.2 /rGO was seen at -0.56V that is more negative value for Pd 0.8 Sn 0.2 /rGO, Thus, oxidation of ethanol for this catalyst was done earlier. Also, the characterization of as-synthesized catalysts was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and FT-IR spectroscopy. At the final step of the current study, the fabricated products after the ethanol oxidation reaction were investigated using FT-IR spectroscopy of electrolyte solution by being exposed to electrical potential at different time periods. Due to the increase in the peak intensity of products; acetaldehyde, acetic acid and carbon monoxide, this result was obtained. By checking this analysis in two synthesized catalysts, it was concluded that in comparison to Pd/rGO, Pd 0.8 Sn 0.2 /rGO electrocatalyst has better electrocatalytic activity and the amount of ethanol oxidation reaction products are more in the presence of this catalyst. Hence, it can be concluded that the ethanol oxidation reaction is more complete in the presence of this catalyst.
