Multi-walled carbon nanotube supported Pd nanocubes with enhanced electrocatalytic activity

A simple one-pot synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotube supported Pd nanocubes is described in this work. Pd nanocubes were in situ grown on carbon nanotubes. The Pd nanocubes show a single-crystal nanostructure and an average diameter of about 9.6 nm. The use of KBr is essential for the formation of Pd nanocubes; without KBr, only irregular Pd nanoparticles can be generated. The structural properties and electronic states of the prepared Pd nanocubes were studied by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The developed nanomaterials present enhanced electrocatalytic activity which is 1.3 times and 1.75 times higher than that of their counterpart multi-walled carbon nanotube supported Pd nanoparticles and a commercial Pd/C reagent, respectively, for formic acid electrooxidation.