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PdCu alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

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Abstract

PdCu nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (PdCu/rGO) with uniform size distribution and dispersion are fabricated by a facile two-step reduction method. During the whole synthesis procedure, no capping agent or surfactant has been used. By varying the Pd/Cu molar ratio, electrocatalysts with different size distribution and dispersion of nanoparticles on graphene are prepared, and their electrocatalytic performance toward methanol oxidation reaction has been studied. It is concluded that the as-prepared electrocatalyst of Pd2Cu2/rGO, of which the Pd/Cu molar ratio is 1:1, exhibits the highest mass activity and most stable electroactivity. Compared to commercial Pd/C, the as-prepared Pd2Cu2/rGO also demonstrates 2.49 times higher mass activity and much more stable electroactivity. The excellent performance of the Pd2Cu2/rGO electrocatalyts is mainly due to the advantages of bimetallic synergistic effects and the supporting material of graphene. Owing to the advantages of high electroactivity, long stability, and cost-effectiveness, the as-prepared Pd2Cu2/rGO nanocomposites are promising anode electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.21203236), Guangdong Department of Science and Technology (2017A050501052), and Shenzhen research plan (JCYJ20160229195455154).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Huangqing Ye, Yunming Li, Jiahui Chen, Jiali Sheng, Xian-Zhu Fu & Rong Sun

  2. Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Huangqing Ye, Yunming Li & Jiahui Chen

  3. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Xian-Zhu Fu

  4. Department of Electronics Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China

    Ching-Ping Wong

  5. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

    Ching-Ping Wong

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  1. Huangqing Ye
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Ye, H., Li, Y., Chen, J. et al. PdCu alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol. J Mater Sci 53, 15871–15881 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2759-5

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