Graphene modulated assembly of PtPd bimetallic catalysts for electro-oxidation of methanol

•Graphene modulated assembly of PtPd bimetallic catalysts.•Graphitization degree and oxygen functionalities of rGO were adjustable.•Moderately reduced rGO had higher catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation.•rGO could be used as catalyst support for potential application in fuel cells. Reduced graphene oxide-supported PtPd bimetallic nanoparticles (PtPd/rGO) were synthesized by the simple electrodeposition method and used as efficient catalysts for methanol electro-oxidation. The graphitization degree and oxygen functionalities of rGO sheets were adjusted by changing the reduction time of GO. Our results indicated that the moderately reduced rGO sheets on ITO substrates presented adequate oxygen functionalities as reactive sites for the nucleation and growth of bimetallic nanoparticles, which was helpful for improving the catalytic activity and stabilization of PtPd bimetallic nanoparticles on rGO. The PtPd/rGO hybrids showed lower onset potential and higher peak currents toward methanol oxidation than the PtPd bimetallic catalysts in the neutral media, highlighting the importance of rGO as the catalyst support for the potential application in fuel cells.