One-step, seedless wet-chemical synthesis of gold@palladium nanoflowers supported on reduced graphene oxide with enhanced electrocatalytic properties

Abstract

Herein, a simple, one-step seedless wet-chemical method was developed for synthesis of well-dispersed gold@palladium core–shell nanoflowers supported on reduced graphene oxide (Au@Pd/rGO) with the assistance of melamine as a linking agent and using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as a structure-directing agent. The as-prepared Au@Pd/rGO exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity and improved stability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and ethylene glycol (EG) oxidation in alkaline media compared with Pd/rGO, Au/rGO, and Pd black. This method can be extended to easily prepare core–shell nanostructures with designed compositions and desired catalytic properties.