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

•Cu2O/Pd with network structure was synthesized using CuO nanorods as reaction beds.•Cu2O/Pd had the remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation.•Cu2O/Pd exhibited superior CO-tolerance and reasonable stability.

The CuO nanorods (NRs) are prepared with the help of inositol hexakisphosphate which serves as a binding agent and stabilizer. We have successfully fabricated Cu2O-decorated palladium networks (Cu2O/Pd Networks) by using such CuO NRs as reaction beds. Transmission electron microscopy images show that Cu2O/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 Cu2O. Such highly active, low-cost, and superiorly CO-tolerant catalysts of Cu2O/Pd Networks will open up a new avenue for direct methanol fuel cells.

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