Small size Mo2C nanocrystal coupled with reduced graphene oxide enhance the electrochemical activity of palladium nanoparticles towards methanol oxidation reaction

A small-sized Mo2C nanoparticle on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheet hybrid (Mo2C-RGO) was applied as a co-catalyst to Pd nanoparticles to form a highly dispersed heterogeneous catalyst (Pd/Mo2C-RGO). Compared to Pd/C, Pd/Mo2C-RGO exhibits significantly enhanced MOR activity; the mass activity of Pd/Mo2C-RGO is 1502 mA mg(Pd)(-1), about 2.5 times that of Pd/C (599 mA mg(Pd)(-1)), and the specific activity (j(k)) of Pd/Mo2C-RGO is 1.59 mA cm(-2) at -0.2 V (vs. Hg/HgO), which is about twice that of Pd/C (0.78 mA cm(-2)). In addition, the resistance to poisonous CO-like intermediates and the durability of Pd/Mo2C-RGO are also remarkably improved.