Abstract
This work attempted to improve the catalytic performance of an anodic catalyst for use in direct methanol fuel cells by coating graphene aerogel (GA) with platinum nanoparticles. A hydrothermal, freeze-drying, and microwave reduction method were used to load Pt–Ru bimetallic nanoparticles onto a graphene aerogel. The mesoporous structure of a graphene aerogel is expected to enhance the mass transfer in an electrode. XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM described the as-synthesized PtRu/GA. Compared to commercial PtRu/C with the same loading (20%), the electrocatalytic performance of PtRu/GA presents superior stability in the methanol oxidation reaction. Furthermore, PtRu/GA offers an electrochemical surface area of 38.49 m2g−1, with a maximal mass activity/specific activity towards methanol oxidation of 219.78 mAmg−1/0.287 mAcm−2, which is higher than that of commercial PtRu/C, 73.11 mAmg−1/0.187 mAcm−2. Thus, the enhanced electrocatalytic performance of PtRu/GA for methanol oxidation proved that GA has excellent potential to improve the performance of Pt catalysts and tolerance towards CO poisoning.
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