Well-dispersed palladium nanoparticles on three-dimensional hollow N-doped graphene frameworks for enhancement of methanol electro-oxidation

•Novel electrocatalyst of Pd/HNGF for methanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media•Significantly enhanced electrocatalytic performance of Pd/HNGF•Effective effect of HNGF with Pd accounting for the improved performance

In this work, palladium (Pd) nanoparticles/three-dimensional hollow N-doped graphene frameworks (HNGF) hybrid catalysts were fabricated by using amine-functionalized poly (glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres-templated HNGF as supporting materials for Pd nanoparticles (NPs). The results demonstrate that the Pd NPs with average sizes of ~ 5.5 nm can be well dispersed on the surfaces of HNGF with internal circular holes of ~ 400 nm. The Pd/HNGF catalysts exhibit high electrocatalytic activity and durability toward methanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium, compared to Pd/graphene and Pd/carbon.

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