Ionic-exchange immobilization of ultra-low loading palladium on a rGO electro-catalyst for high activity formic acid oxidation.

A formic acid oxidation electro-catalyst with ultra-low palladium (Pd) loading was prepared via an ionic exchange method by utilizing the acidic functional groups on graphene oxide (GO). After simultaneous reduction of exchanged Pd 2+ and residual functional groups on the GO surface, an ionic exchange reduced Pd catalyst supported on reduced GO (IE-Pd/rGO) was obtained. Three times improved formic acid oxidation mass activity compared with that of the conventional synthesized Pd/C catalyst was exhibited for the IE-Pd/rGO catalyst. More importantly, formic acid oxidation stability on the IE-Pd/rGO catalyst was remarkably improved due to synergistic effect of the strong immobilization of Pd nanoparticles and the effect of in situ doped N on the rGO support.