An easy method is presented to fabricate Cu2O nanocubes decorated on reduced graphene oxide (rGO)
functionalized with 4-aminothiophenol. The structure and composition of the Cu2O nanocubes are
verified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray
diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). The results from field emission scanning electron microscopy show that
decorating functionalized rGO with Cu2O nanoparticles on the surface yields three-dimensional Cu2O
nanocubes. XRD patterns indicate that this same process creates a face-centered cubic Cu2O which can
be subsequently combined with Pd by galvanic replacement. Electrochemical studies show that this
bimetallic system enhances the electrocatalytic activity and the stability of the nanoparticles for
electro-oxidation of formic acid. The results of the same studies also reveal that functionalized-rGO
supported Cu2O nanocubes when combined with Pd by galvanic replacement (Pd/Cu2O-NC@F-rGO) are
superior with respect to electro-oxidation of formic acid in acid media over the plain rGO supported
Cu2O nanoparticles combined with Pd by galvanic replacement (Pd/Cu2O-NP@rGO). A potential cycling
test is employed to confirm the stability of the electro-catalyst, which reveals the high stability of
Pd/Cu2O-NC@F-rGO compared to that of Pd/Cu2O-NP@rGO catalyst with carbon monoxide poisoning.
In addition, experimental results demonstrate an effective method for avoiding the poisoning of the electrocatalysts
by using the thiol functional group. The method is expected to resolve key problems of anodic
formic acid oxidation that hampers fuel cell commercialization.