Pd-on-NiCu nanosheets with enhanced electro-catalytic performances for methanol oxidation

For the exploration of catalysts with excellent performance in alkaline fuel cells, high-performance two-dimensional (2D) Pd-on-NiCu nanosheets were synthesized through the kinetics controlling synthesis of NiCu nanosheets followed by Pd nanoparticles (NPs) embedding treatment at room temperature. In which case, well-dispersed Pd NPs with the average diameter of ∼4 nm are embedded on NiCu nanosheets (BET surface area of 180.7 m 2 g −1 ). Pd-on-NiCu nanosheets exert remarkable high performance in electrocatalytic activity, methanol-tolerance and stability, the electrocatalytic mass activity of Pd-on-NiCu nanosheets is 1827 mAmg −1 , which is over 6-fold higher than that of commercial Pd/C (289 mAmg −1 ), and the current density of the electrocatalyst decreases after 300 cycles of only 6%. Therefore, Pd-on-NiCu nanosheets can be considered as one of the most promising candidates for fuel cells applications.