Natural DNA-modified graphene/Pd nanoparticles as highly active catalyst for formic acid electro-oxidation and for the Suzuki reaction.

Natural DNA has been considered as a building block for developing novel functional materials. It is abundant, renewable, and biodegradable and has a well-defined structure and conformation with many unique features, which are difficult to find in other polymers. Herein, calf thymus DNA modified graphene/Pd nanoparticle (DNA-G-Pd) hybrid materials are constructed for the first time using DNA as a mediator, and the prepared DNA-G-Pd hybrid shows high catalytic activity for fuel cell formic acid electro-oxidation and for organic Suzuki reaction. The main advantages of using DNA are not only because the aromatic nucleobases in DNA can interact through π-π stacking with graphene basal surface but also because they can chelate Pd via dative bonding in such defined sites along the DNA lattice. Our results indicate that isolated, homogeneous, and ultrafine spherical Pd nanoparticles are densely in situ decorated on DNA-modified graphene surfaces with high stability and dispersibility. The prepared DNA-G-Pd hybrid has much greater activity and durability for formic acid electro-oxidation than the commercial Pd/C catalyst and polyvinylpyrrolidone-mediated graphene/Pd nanoparticle (PVP-G-Pd) hybrid used for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). Besides, the DNA-G-Pd hybrid can also be an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the organic Suzuki reaction in aqueous solution under aerobic conditions without any preactivation. Since DNA can chelate various transition metal cations, this proof-of-concept protocol provides the possibility for the tailored design of other novel catalytic materials based on graphene with full exploitation of their properties.