Small size Mo2C nanocrystal coupled with reduced graphene oxide enhance the electrochemical activity of palladium nanoparticles towards methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

A small-sized Mo₂C nanoparticle on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheet hybrid (Mo₂C–RGO) was applied as a co-catalyst to Pd nanoparticles to form a highly dispersed heterogeneous catalyst (Pd/Mo₂C–RGO). Compared to Pd/C, Pd/Mo₂C–RGO exhibits significantly enhanced MOR activity; the mass activity of Pd/Mo₂C–RGO is 1502 mA mg_Pd⁻¹, about 2.5 times that of Pd/C (599 mA mg_Pd⁻¹), and the specific activity (j_k) of Pd/Mo₂C–RGO is 1.59 mA cm⁻² at −0.2 V (vs. Hg/HgO), which is about twice that of Pd/C (0.78 mA cm⁻²). In addition, the resistance to poisonous CO-like intermediates and the durability of Pd/Mo₂C–RGO are also remarkably improved.