Enhanced Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol on Pt‐Decorated Bi2WO6/Graphene Nanosheets with Visible Light Assistance

Abstract

Noble metal/semiconductor–based electrocatalysts have been proverbially used as the anode material in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) recently. Combined with the advantage of the properties of noble metals and semiconductors, photo‐assisted electrocatalytic methanol oxidation is a valid route to increase the catalytic activity of catalysts in DMFCs. Herein, a 2D composite of bismuth tungstate/reduced graphene oxide (Bi2WO6/RGO) with excellent optical, electrical, and thermal stability is used as the support for the decoration of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) to synthesize a new electrocatalyst of Pt‐Bi2WO6/RGO. Under ambient conditions, the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) activity of the Pt‐Bi2WO6/RGO electrocatalyst increases relative to the Pt/Bi2WO6 electrode. Note that, under visible light irradiation, it deals with big enhancement of methanol oxidation activity on Pt‐Bi2WO6/RGO electrode, highlighting the effect of RGO used as Bi2WO6 cocatalysis for the MOR activity under illumination. Meanwhile, the corresponding reaction mechanisms with/without visible light are presented, and the roles of Pt‐Bi2WO6/RGO for photo‐assisted electrochemical reactions are proposed.