Hydrothermal synthesis of graphene modified SnO nanocomposite for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

The synthesis of tin (II) oxide (stannous oxide) and its composite with reduced graphene oxide also with nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide nanosheet (N-rGO) were synthesized by a single step of the hydrothermal method. The physical properties of the catalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX). Among all the materials, SnO/rGO nanocomposite shows good oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC’s) with 4e- process still needs to be improved in its onset potential for competing for the commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts. However, SnO/rGO nanocomposite has better methanol tolerance and Chronoamperometric response than Pt/C electrocatalysts.