Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-supported AuCore-PdShell nanocomposite electrocatalyst for facile formic acid oxidation

CO tolerant anode electrocatalysts with promising formic acid oxidation activities are necessary to develop DFACs (direct formic acid fuel cells) as viable renewable energy sources. Here, we report capabilities of bimetallic Au-Core-Pd-Shell nanoparticles with an average particle size of 5.7 nm strewn across a carbonaceous support made of RGO (reduced graphene oxide), i.e.. for formic acid electrochemical oxidation were elaborated. The microstructural details of as-prepared electrocatalysts were assessed by X-ray diffraction of (XRD), low and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM & HR-TEM) patterns, along with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns, as well as cyclic voltammetry. At room temperature, nanoparticles' electrocatalytic ac-tivity towards formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) was measured in a solution made up of N-2-saturated 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.5 M HCOOH. Au-Core-Pd-Shell/RGO catalyst showed higher catalytic performance and more stability towards the FAOR unlike in-house synthesized electrocatalysts like Pd/RGO, Au-Pd/RGO and multi -walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)-supported Au-Pd (Au-Pd /MWCNT).

Automated summary

In this study, CO-tolerant anode electrocatalysts with promising formic acid oxidation activities were developed using bimetallic Au-Core-Pd-Shell nanoparticles. These nanoparticles exhibited higher catalytic performance and stability compared to other synthesized electrocatalysts.