Lamellar polyaniline-modified reduced graphene oxide loaded electron-rich Pd nanoparticles for highly efficient electrooxidation of C2 alcohols

Design and preparation of catalysts with lower cost and higher catalytic efficiency are still important strategy to promote the wide application of alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFCs). In this study, a novel anode catalyst for ADAFCs has been easily synthesized based on polyaniline (PANI)-modified wrinkled reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs). Morphology and structure characterization confirm the modified lamellar structure and composition of the Pd/PANI-rGO composite, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrates the electron transfer from PANI-rGO to Pd NPs. For ethylene glycol and ethanol oxidation reactions (EGOR/EOR) in alkaline media, the Pd/PANI-rGO exhibits promising electrocatalytic properties with mass activity as 4342.5 and 2220.4 mA mgPd-1, specific activity as 26.6 and 13.6 mA cm-2 and intrinsic activity as 5.7 and 2.5 s-1, respectively. Moreover, the Pd/PANI-rGO shows significantly enhanced anti-poisoning ability and durability as compared with contrast samples due to the well dispersion of Pd NPs on PANI-rGO and the synergistic interaction between PANI-rGO and Pd NPs producing electron-rich Pd and more active sites for EGOR and EOR. This work is expected to provide theoretical foundation for designing low-cost and high-efficiency ADAFCs anode catalysts.