Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-supported AuCore–PdShell nanocomposite electrocatalyst for facile formic acid oxidation.

[Display omitted] • Electrochemical oxidation of formic acid on bimetallic Au@Pd nanoparticles dispersed on a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) support. • Formic acid oxidation Au@Pd/RGO was recorded in a mixed solution of N 2 -saturated 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 and 0.5 M HCOOH at room temperature (RT). • Au@Pd/RGO/RGO showed higher formic acid oxidation activity compared to Pd/RGO, Au-Pd/RGO and Au-Pd /MWCNT catalysts. CO tolerant anode electrocatalysts with promising formic acid oxidation activities are necessary to develop DFACs (direct formic acid fuel cells) as viable renewable energy sources. Here, we report capabilities of bimetallic Au Core –Pd Shell nanoparticles with an average particle size of 5.7 nm strewn across a carbonaceous support made of RGO (reduced graphene oxide), i.e.. for formic acid electrochemical oxidation were elaborated. The microstructural details of as-prepared electrocatalysts were assessed by X-ray diffraction of (XRD), low and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM & HR-TEM) patterns, along with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns, as well as cyclic voltammetry. At room temperature, nanoparticles' electrocatalytic activity towards formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) was measured in a solution made up of N 2 -saturated 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 and 0.5 M HCOOH. Au Core –Pd Shell /RGO catalyst showed higher catalytic performance and more stability towards the FAOR unlike in-house synthesized electrocatalysts like Pd/RGO, Au-Pd/RGO and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)-supported Au-Pd (Au-Pd /MWCNT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]