Mxene coupled over nitrogen-doped graphene anchoring palladium nanocrystals as an advanced electrocatalyst for the ethanol electrooxidation

Development of good support materials is widely adopted as a valid strategy to fabricate high performance electrocatalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). In this study, the small diameter Ti3C2Tx MXene thin nanosheets inserted into three-dimensional nitrogen-doped grapheme (NG) was constructed via a facile hydrothermal method and employed as support materials for anchoring Pd nanocrystals (Pd/Ti3C2Tx@NG). The obtained-Pd/Ti3C2Tx@NG as EOR electrocatalyst in alkaline media outperforms the commercial Pd/C with better electrocatalytic activity, enhanced long-term stability and high CO tolerance. The Ti3C2Tx inserted into NG probably plays a key role for enhancing the properties of the synthesized-catalyst. Inserting Ti3C2Tx into NG allows the electrocatalysts to have high porosity, surface hydrophilicity, sufficient number of anchor sites for Pd nanocrystals and modifies its electronic properties, which can promote the electrocatalytic activity and durability. The enhanced EOR performance endows Pd/Ti3C2Tx@NG with great application potential in fuel cells as an anode catalyst. Furthermore, the prepared Ti3C2Tx@NG is also suitable in various desired applications, especially other oxidation reactions. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, Ti3C2Tx MXene thin nanosheets inserted into three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) were used as support materials for anchoring Pd nanocrystals (Pd/Ti3C2Tx@NG). The obtained catalyst showed better electrocatalytic activity, enhanced long-term stability and high CO tolerance compared to commercial Pd/C, indicating great potential for application in fuel cells as an anode catalyst.