A comparative study for the electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohol on Pt-Au nanoparticle-supported copolymer-grafted graphene oxide composite for fuel cell application

Abstract

The platinum-gold bimetallic nanoparticles supported poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-benzidine)-grafted graphene oxide (poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO) composite has been prepared for electrochemical performance studies. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric studies were carried out to check the electrochemical properties of Pt-Au/poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO and Pt/poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO catalysts for methanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol in alkaline medium. The morphology and crystalline structure of the prepared Pt-Au/poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO and Pt/poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO and catalysts have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). From the electrochemical results, it was concluded that Pt-Au/poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO catalyst shows higher catalytic activity and stability compared to Pt/poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO catalyst. The catalytic activity of Pt/poly(CP-co-BZ)-g-GO catalyst has been compared with Pt/poly(CP-co-BZ), Pt/GO and Pt/C catalysts. In addition, oxidation current of ethylene glycol is higher than the methanol and glycerol in alkaline medium on the prepared catalyst.