Fabrication of graphene-fullerene hybrid by self-assembly and its application as support material for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation reaction

Graphene-fullerene hybrids were facilely fabricated by self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO) and multi-substituted fulleropyrrolidines (PyrC ₆₀ ). The hybrids (GO-PyrC ₆₀ ) were applied as support materials to deposit Pd nanoparticle catalyst by a simple hydrothermal co-reduction approach. The as-prepared electrocatalysts (Pd/RGO-PyrC ₆₀ ) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The RGO-PyrC ₆₀ hybrid supported Pd catalyst with the optimal ratio of RGO to PyrC ₆₀ , exhibited much enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) compared to the RGO alone supported Pd as well as commercial Pd/C. The introduction of fulleropyrrolidine as spacer between graphene layers could increase the electrocatalytic activity and improve the long-term stability. This strategy may contribute to developing graphene-fullerene hydrids as effective support materials for advanced electrocatalysts.