Green synthesis of graphene–PtPd alloy nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic performance for ethanol oxidation

Abstract

A facile and green method is described for the fabrication of PtPd alloy nanoparticles on graphene nanosheets (PtPdNPs/GNs). The keys of the synthesis strategy were to employ a low-cost and green solvent, ethanol, as the reductant, and a two-dimensional carbon material, GNs, as the supporting material. The morphology, structure and composition of the as-prepared PtPdNPs/GNs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that by changing the preparation procedures and varying the molar ratio of the starting precursors, NPs with different shapes such as spherical NPs (Pt1Pd1NPs), nanoflowers (Pd@PtNFs) and nanodentrites (Pt3Pd1NPs) could be produced on GNs. Based on these observations, a plausible growth mechanism of PtPdNPs/GNs was discussed. In addition, the electrocatalytic properties of PtPdNPs/GNs for direct ethanol oxidation in alkaline media were systematically investigated. Due to the synergetic effects of Pt and Pd, and the enhanced electron transfer properties enhanced of GNs, PtPdNPs/GNs exhibited higher electrocatalytic ability and better tolerance to reaction intermediate poisoning in the electrooxidation of ethanol compared with Pt nanoflowers supported on GNs (PtNFs/GNs), PdNPs/GNs and PtPdNPs supported on carbon black (PtPdNPs/C). The presented method is a general, facile and green approach for the synthesis of GN-supported bimetallic PtM electrocatalysts, which is significant for the development of high performance electrocatalysts.