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

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2014-08, Vol.137, p.206-212
• Main Authors: Jukk, Kristel, Kongi, Nadezda, Matisen, Leonard, Kallio, Tanja, Kontturi, Kyösti, Tammeveski, Kaido
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Nitrogen-doped graphene; Oxygen reduction; Pd nanoparticles; Pd-based catalysts
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2014.06.020

•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.