Graphene support for enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Pd for alcohol oxidation

Graphene nanosheets (GNS) were synthesized by the NaBH4 reduction of freshly prepared graphite oxide and utilized as a catalyst support of palladium nanoparticles for the electrooxidation of ethanol and methanol. Home-made GNS were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and XRD. The study has shown that Pd nanoparticles dispersed on GNS were highly active for the electrooxidation of ethanol and methanol in 1 M KOH. It is observed that Pd nanoparticles dispersed on GNS are more active compared to those dispersed on nanocarbon particles (NC) or multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for ethanol/methanol electrooxidation under similar experimental conditions. The enhanced electrochemical activity of Pd/GNS toward alcohol oxidation can be ascribed to the greatly enhanced electrochemical active surface area of Pd nanoparticles on the GNS support.