Electroreduction of oxygen on palladium nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets

• Nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) sheets were used as a support for Pd nanoparticles.
• NG-supported Pd nanoparticles were employed as electrocatalysts for ORR.
• Pd/NG composite showed high electrocatalytic activity for ORR in alkaline media.
• Pd/NG composite is a promising cathode catalyst for alkaline membrane fuel cells.

The electrochemical reduction of oxygen on Pd nanoparticle-decorated nitrogen-doped graphene (Pd/NG) catalyst has been investigated in acid and alkaline solutions using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method. The Pd/NG nanocomposites were prepared by NaBH4 reduction. The surface characterisation of Pd/NG composites was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The TEM images showed the uniform distribution of Pd nanoparticles over the N-doped graphene nanosheets. The RDE results indicated that Pd/NG catalysts possess a high electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The prepared materials catalyse a 4-electron reduction of oxygen. The Tafel behaviour of O2 reduction on Pd/NG catalysts was similar to that of bare Pd. The Pd/NG composite showed excellent ORR performance in alkaline media and is a promising material to be used as a cathode catalyst for alkaline membrane fuel cells.

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