Hollow PdCu nanocubes supported by N-doped graphene: A surface science and electrochemical study

N doped graphenes (NGs) are believed to be promising materials for constructing novel hybrid composites with desirable functionalities and applications in many fields. Therefore, a better understanding of the NGs holds the key to a better performance of the hybrid properties. A facile and low-cost preparation of NGs supported hollow PdCu alloy nanocubes (H-PdCu) catalysts were introduced in this paper. To increase the stability and efficiency of the catalysts, a two-step strategy was employed, which included the preparation of NGs and the synthesis of hollow PdCu alloy nanocube catalysts. A series of NGs using melamine, polypyrrole (ppy) and polyaniline (PANI) as nitrogen source, respectively. The influence of the different N species (pyridinic N, pyrrolic N and graphite N) on the morphologies and corresponding electrical properties of H-PdCu nanoparticles were studied. The results indicate that NGs are successfully synthesized, and hollow PdCu alloy nanocubes are well-dispersed on the surface of them with a relatively narrow particle size distribution. Electrochemical characterizations reveal that the H-PdCu/melamine-NG catalyst has excellent catalytic activity and stability toward alcohols oxidation in alkaline electrolyte, which can serve as promising anode catalysts in direct alcohols fuel cells (DAFCs). Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.