Platinum nanoparticles supported on nitrogen and sulfur-doped reduced graphene oxide nanomaterial as highly active electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation

摘要

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts a source fuel into an electrical current. It generates electricity inside a cell through reactions between a fuel and an oxidant, triggered in the presence of an electrolyte. Fuel cells have been attracting more and more attention in recent decades due to high-energy demands, fossil fuel depletions and environmental pollution throughout world. In this study, a facile and cost-effective catalysts have been developed on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) supported on nitrogen and sulfur-doped reduced graphene oxide (NSrGO). The successful synthesis of nanomaterials and the prepared glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surfaces were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). According to TEM images, the average particle sizes of PtNPs were found to be approximately 15-20 nm. The effective surface areas (ESA) of NSrGO/ GCE and PtNPs/NSrGO/GCE were calculated to be 148 and 469 cm~2/mg, respectively. The PtNPs/NSrGO/GCE also exhibited a higher peak current for methanol oxidation than those of comparable GCE and NSrGO/GCE, providing evidence for its higher electro-catalytic activity.