Supercritical CO2 mediated synthesis and catalytic activity of graphene/Pd nanocomposites

•RGO/Pd composite was efficiently prepared via a facile method in supercritical CO2.•Graphene sheets were coated uniformly with Pd nanoparticles with a size of ∼8 nm.•Composites exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the Suzuki reaction even after 10 cycles.

Graphene sheets were decorated with palladium nanoparticles using a facile and efficient method in supercritical CO2. The nanoparticles were formed on the graphene sheets by the simple hydrogen reduction of palladium(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate precursor in supercritical CO2. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Highly dispersed nanoparticles with various sizes and shapes adhered well to the graphene sheets. The composites showed high catalytic activities for the Suzuki reaction under aqueous and aerobic conditions within 5 min. The effects of the different Pd precursor loadings on the catalytic activities of the composites were also examined.

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