Palladium networks decorated by cuprous oxide for remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic activity of methanol oxidation reaction with high CO-tolerance

Abstract

Abstract The CuO nanorods (NRs) are prepared with the help of inositol hexakisphosphate which serves as a binding agent and stabilizer. We have successfully fabricated Cu 2 O-decorated palladium networks (Cu 2 O/Pd Networks) by using such CuO NRs as reaction beds. Transmission electron microscopy images show that Cu 2 O/Pd network is composed of small and irregular fused nanoparticles with an average size of about 10 nm. Electrochemical results depict that the as-synthesized catalyst exhibits 2-fold higher activity for methanol oxidation than the commercially available 20% Pd/C catalyst and Pd black catalyst. Furthermore, CO-tolerance is also remarkably enhanced due to the presence of Cu 2 O. Such highly active, low-cost, and superiorly CO-tolerant catalysts of Cu 2 O/Pd Networks will open up a new avenue for direct methanol fuel cells.