Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Functionalized with Bile Salts as Support for Electrochemical Catalysts

Graphene nanosheets functionalized with bile salts (G-bile salts) are obtained through chemical reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide in the presence of deoxycholic acid sodium salt, taurodeoxycholic acid sodium salt, or cholic acid sodium salt. Due to the “facial amphiphilic” structure of bile salt molecules, the G-bile salt composites exhibit excellent dispersibility in water. In addition, G-bile salts decorated with palladium (Pd) nanoparticles (Pd-G-bile salts) are prepared via a facile co-reduction process. The use of the Pd-G-bile salt composites as electrochemical catalysts for formic acid oxidation reaction is demonstrated. Better utilization has been achieved for Pd catalysts dispersed on G-bile salts than those prepared without bile salts.