Bridging Nanoscience and Electrochemistry: An Undergraduate Experiment on Soft-Template Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrocatalytic Testing of Mesoporous Palladium

Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) face two major challenges: slow methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) kinetics and catalyst poisoning by CO. These challenges limit their efficiency and lifetime, creating a need for better anode catalysts. This paper describes an undergraduate laboratory experiment on the soft-template synthesis of mesoporous palladium nanoparticles (mesoPd NPs). Students characterize the material by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and evaluate its electrochemical performance for MOR. The experiment introduces students to the structure-function relationship in catalysis, combining nanoscience, electrochemistry, and materials characterization. It provides opportunities for students to develop skills in synthesis, instrumentation, and data interpretation, while introducing them to current research in energy electrocatalysis. Assessment of the module with 20 third-year chemistry majors (n = 20) revealed an improvement from pretest (52%) to post-test (83%) in conceptual understanding. Achievement rates across all success criteria ranged from 80% to 100% across laboratory reports, data analysis, oral presentations, safety compliance, and peer evaluations.