Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide by thermal treatment (rGO-TT), nitrogen-modified rGO (N-rGO), and carbon Vulcan were synthesized and employed in the current work as catalyst support for Pt nanoparticles, to study their properties and impact toward the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in sulfuric acid medium. Several physicochemical techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman, and elemental analysis were employed to characterize the novel materials, while potentiodynamic and potentiostatic methods were used to study catalytic performance toward the methanol oxidation reaction in acidic medium. The main results indicate a high influence of the support on the surface electronic state of the catalyst, and consequently the catalytic performance toward the MOR is modified. Accordingly, Pt/N-rGO and Pt/rGO-TT show the lowest and the highest catalytic performance toward the MOR, respectively.
Highlights
The search for alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, and the study and development of new green technologies for energy supply is an imperative necessity in order to fight global warming
In order to reduce as much as possible the amount of the catalytic material, the synthesis of Pt nanoparticles with high surface area/volume ratios, as well as the use of catalyst supports for a good dispersion of the metallic nanoparticles, is essential [12,13,14]
Results have shown that the support conditions the state of oxidation of metal nanoparticles at the surface of the catalysts, which control the activity of a specific electrochemical nanoparticles at the surface of the catalysts, which control the activity of a specific electrochemical reaction
Summary
The search for alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, and the study and development of new green technologies for energy supply is an imperative necessity in order to fight global warming. Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) are an example of these energy-conversion devices [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8] They are able to supply energy from the electro-oxidation of a cheap resource like methanol, resulting in the reduction of release of harmful emissions, and in the supply of high energy densities at low temperatures. A high electrical conductivity of the catalyst support is the key factor for electrochemical reactions like the MOR. In this sense, graphene has emerged as a new-generation catalyst support, because of its excellent electrical conductivity and high surface area [15,16,17,18].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call