Pd-Nanoparticle-Supported, PDDA-Functionalized Graphene as a Promising Catalyst for Alcohol Oxidation

Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) has been employed as a modifying material for the development of new functional materials; then, the functionalized graphene was employed as a support for Pd nanoparticles through a facile method. The structures and morphologies of the as-synthesized Pd/PDDA-graphene composites were extensively characterized by Raman spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, and TEM. Morphological observation showed that Pd NPs with average diameters of 4.4 nm were evenly deposited over the functionalized graphene sheets. Moreover, the electrochemical experiments indicated that the Pd/PDDA-graphene catalyst showed improved electrocatalytic activity toward alcohol-oxidation reactions compared to the Pd/graphene and commercial Pd/C systems, as well as previously reported Pd-based catalysts. This study demonstrates the great potential of PDDA-functionalized graphene as a support for the development of metal-graphene nanocomposites for important applications in fuel cells.