High performance of AuPt deposited on Ni nanoparticles in ethylene glycol oxidation

Abstract

The electrochemical deposition of small amounts of Au and Pt on the surface of Ni nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide and the electrooxidation of ethylene glycol on the AuPt-decorated Ni/reduced graphene oxide catalysts in alkaline solution are investigated. By selecting a short deposition time, a low concentration of metal precursors, and a positive applied potential, AuPt loadings of less than 1.0 μg cm−2 are obtained. Physical and electrochemical characterizations of AuPt/Ni/reduced graphene oxide reveal a much lower content of Pt relative to Au. However, AuPt/Ni/reduced graphene oxide behaves similar to monometallic Pt/reduced graphene oxide rather than to Au/reduced graphene oxide in ethylene glycol oxidation, while Ni/reduced graphene oxide and Pt-decorated Ni/reduced graphene oxide show no activity. Compared to Pt/reduced graphene oxide or Au/reduced graphene oxide, the peak intensities of AuPt/Ni/reduced graphene oxide are somewhat higher in terms of the glassy carbon substrate, but are significantly higher in terms of the AuPt mass loading. Another attractive feature of AuPt/Ni/reduced graphene oxide is low cost resulted from the low AuPt loading. The result of this study indicates that decorating the surface of non-noble metal with a small amount of two noble metals is an efficient method to fabricate highly active catalysts.