International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.43, No.28, 12803-12810, 2018
High electrocatalytic performance of a graphene-supported PtAu nanoalloy for methanol oxidation
Homogeneously distributed PtAu nanoalloy anchored to graphene (PtAuNA/G) was synthesized via a simple one-step electrochemical deposition process, in which Pt and Au ions and graphene oxide was simultaneously electro-reduced on the glassy carbon electrode. The morphology evolution of PtAuNA/G synthesized with different deposition times was characterized via field-emission scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy was applied to confirm the alloy structure. The electrodeposition conditions, including the deposition time, were further optimized to explore the morphological evolution of PtAuNA/G. Based on cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry results, it was found that PtAuNA/G can efficiently catalyze the oxidation of methanol in alkaline media with dramatically enhanced electrocatalytic activity (7.268 mA cm(-2), 3.83 times higher than that of commercial carbon-supported Pt nano particles, 1.894 mA cm(-2)), along with a considerably improved tolerance to poisoning (current decline: 69% vs 99.89%). These results indicate a great potential for PtAuNA/G in fabricating high-performance direct methanol fuel cells. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords:PtAu nanoalloy;Electrodeposition;Bimetal-graphene composite;Electrocatalytic-oxidation of methanol