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Earth-abundant copper-based hybrid Cu–Cu2ONPs@C in the carbon matrix exhibited enhanced OER and HER catalytic activity compared to pure Cu2O and CuNPs@C.

Ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are two of the most important technical challenges during the manifestation of ethanol and H2 -O2 fuel cells. Herein we explore the electrocatalytic activity of copper- palladium core-shell nanostructures on pencil graphite (Cu@Pd/PGE) for EOR and HER. A maximum peak current density of 261±11 mA/cm2 with excellent retention for 1000 potential cycling is observed for EOR. High-performance liquid chromatography and Raman analysis indicate upto 12-electron transfer oxidation with the formation of carbon dioxide or carbonate, which imply the superiority of the catalyst. High HER current near to its thermodynamic potential of ∼ 0 V vs. RHE, together with a stable performance for 1000 voltammetric cycles, make Cu@Pd/PGE as a potential catalyst for HER in acidic media. The catalytic efficiency is also manifested by the well resolved voltammetric features during HER activity with a Tafel slope comparable to commercial Pt/C catalysts. The excellent bifunctional activity of Cu@Pd/PGEprovides a new route for commercialisation of low-cost electrocatalysts for fuel cell applications.

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