2D surface induced self-assembly of Pd nanocrystals into nanostrings for enhanced formic acid electrooxidation

Sheng Zhang (Corresponding author), Rong Xia, Yaqiong Su, Yichao Zou, Chengyi Hu, Geping Yin, Emiel J.M. Hensen, Xinbin Ma, Yuehe Lin (Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) graphene has been widely used as an ideal substrate for many functional materials. It is crucial to understand and control the growth of metal nanocrystals on the graphene surface. Herein we report a novel phenomenon that pre-synthesized palladium nanoparticles are spontaneously transformed into palladium nanostrings (Pd NSs) with nanoscale grain boundaries induced by the reduction of a graphene oxide substrate. A systematic study has been performed to explore the formation mechanism of Pd NSs, where the surface chemistry of 2D graphene is found to be the key factor. More importantly, these Pd NSs exhibit significantly enhanced stability and are among the most active catalysts for formic acid oxidation. Density-functional theory investigation further unravels that the formation of grain boundaries weakens the adsorption of formate and facilitates its subsequent oxidation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17128-17135
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume8
Issue number33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Sept 2020

Funding

The authors acknowledge the fnancial support from the Key Research and Development Project of Tianjin (Grant No. 18ZXJMTG00180 and 19ZXNCGX00030), and the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21433003).

FundersFunder number
National Natural Science Foundation of China21433003
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

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