Synthesis of bimetallic PtPd nanocubes on graphene with N,N-dimethylformamide and their direct use for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation

Abstract

Bimetallic PtPd nanocubes supported on graphene nanosheets (PtPdNCs/GNs) were prepared by a rapid, one-pot and surfactant-free method, in which N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was used as a bi-functional solvent for the reduction of both metal precursors and graphene oxide (GO) and for the surface confining growth of PtPdNCs. The morphology, structure and composition of the thus-prepared PtPdNCs/GNs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Because no surfactant or halide ions were involved in the proposed synthesis, the prepared PtPdNCs/GNs were directly modified onto a glassy carbon electrode and showed high electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation in cyclic voltammetry without any pretreatments. Moreover, with the synergetic effects of Pt and Pd and the enhanced electron transfer by graphene, the PtPdNCs/GNs composites exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity (jp=0.48Amg−1) and better tolerance to carbon monoxide poisoning (If/Ib=1.27) compared with PtPd nanoparticles supported on carbon black (PtPdNPs/C) (jp=0.28Amg−1; If/Ib=1.01) and PtNPs/GNs (jp=0.33Amg−1; If/Ib=0.95). This approach demonstrates that the use of DMF as a solvent with heating is really useful for reducing GO and metal precursors concurrently for preparing clean metal–graphene composites.