In the context of electrochemistry and electrocatalysis, Palladium is interesting due to its similarities to platinum and its widespread use in the field of heterogenous catalysis. However, currently available electrocatalysts based on Pd suffer from their proclivity for rapid dissolution and the loss of catalytic activity associated with it. Possible alternatives include Pd based electrocatalysts with different support materials such as titanium oxynitride, which has been revealed to be a suitable material for electrochemical applications by prior studies. The following diploma thesis is focused on an accurate characterization and explanation of the novel electrocatalyst behaviour using electrochemical methods. It also includes a comparison between the novel material and commercially available composite of palladium nanoparticles on carbon support. A particular emphasis is given to the differences between the two composites under conditions relevant to electrocatalysis in acidic aqueous media. Processes taking place during the pretreatment of the electrode and their effects on the resulting electrochemical activity are also studied in detail.
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