Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Facile synthesis of Pt nanoparticles supported on graphene/Vulcan XC-72 carbon and their application for methanol oxidation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Ionics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A facile method was used for the preparation of Pt nanoparticles supported on graphene/Vulcan XC-72 carbon (denoted as Pt/Gr-C) by co-reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and H2PtCl6 with subsequent incorporation of Vulcan XC-72 carbon between graphene. The catalyst is extensively characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. SEM and TEM observations show that aggregation of graphene is weakened through carbon insertion, which is beneficial for increase of effective contact area between catalyst and electrolyte. The electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of Pt/Gr-C is higher than both Pt/C and Pt/Gr catalysts. The forward peak current density of Pt/Gr-C for methanol oxidation is 0.3 A mg−1 Pt, which is 1.4 and 1.7 times larger than Pt/Gr and Pt/C, respectively, due to the high utilization of Pt and large three-phase interface for methanol oxidation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lee YH, Lee G, Shim JH, Hwang S, Kwak J, Lee K, Song H, Park JT (2006) Monodisperse PtRu nanoalloy on carbon as a high-performance DMFC catalyst. Chem Mater 18:4209–4211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gao H, Liao S, Zeng J, Xie Y (2011) Platinum decorated Ru/C: effects of decorated platinum on catalyst structure and performance for the methanol oxidation reaction. J Power Sources 196:54–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang M, Li Y, Yan Z, Jing J, Xie J, Chen M (2015) Improved catalytic activity of cobalt core–platinum shell nanoparticles supported on surface functionalized graphene for methanol electro-oxidation. Electrochim Acta 158:81–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Liu H, Song C, Zhang L, Zhang J, Wang H, Wilkinson DP (2006) A review of anode catalysis in the direct methanol fuel cell. J Power Sources 155:95–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Woo S, Lee J, Park S-K, Kim H, Chung TD, Piao Y (2013) Enhanced electrocatalysis of PtRu onto graphene separated by Vulcan carbon spacer. J Power Sources 222:261–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kakaei K, Zhiani M (2013) A new method for manufacturing graphene and electrochemical characteristic of graphene-supported Pt nanoparticles in methanol oxidation. J Power Sources 225:356–363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Xiao M, Zhu J, Ge J, Liu C, Xing W (2015) The enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability of supported Pt nanoparticles for methanol electro-oxidation through the optimized oxidation degree of carbon nanotubes. J Power Sources 281:34–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wu K, Zhang Q, Sun D, Zhu X, Chen Y, Lu T, Tang Y (2015) Graphene-supported Pd–Pt alloy nanoflowers: in situ growth and their enhanced electrocatalysis towards methanol oxidation. Int J Hydrog Energy 40:6530–6537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Liang Q, Zhang L, Cai M, Li Y, Jiang K, Zhang X, Shen PK (2013) Preparation and characterization of Pt/functionalized graphene and its electrocatalysis for methanol oxidation. Electrochim Acta 111:275–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Schniepp HC, Li JL, McAllister MJ, Sai H, Herrera-Alonso M, Adamson DH, Prud’homme RK, Car R, Saville DA, Aksay IA (2006) Functionalized single graphene sheets derived from splitting graphite oxide. J Phys Chem B 110:8535–8539

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. McAllister MJ, Li J-L, Adamson DH, Schniepp HC, Abdala AA, Liu J, Herrera-Alonso M, Milius DL, Car R, Prud’homme RK, Aksay IA (2007) Single sheet functionalized graphene by oxidation and thermal expansion of graphite. Chem Mater 19:4396–4404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Li Y, Li Y, Zhu E, McLouth T, Chiu C-Y, Huang X, Huang Y (2012) Stabilization of high-performance oxygen reduction reaction Pt electrocatalyst supported on reduced graphene oxide/carbon black composite. J Am Chem Soc 134:12326–12329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jyothirmayee Aravind SS, Imran Jafri R, Rajalakshmi N, Ramaprabhu S (2011) Solar exfoliated graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid nano composites as efficient catalyst supports for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Mater Chem 21:18199–18204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Park S, Shao Y, Wan H, Rieke PC, Viswanathan VV, Towne SA, Saraf LV, Liu J, Lin Y, Wang Y (2011) Design of graphene sheets-supported Pt catalyst layer in PEM fuel cells. Electrochem Commun 13:258–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hummers WS, Offeman RE (1958) Preparation of graphitic oxide. J Am Chem Soc 80:1339–1339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tang L, Wang Y, Li Y, Feng H, Lu J, Li J (2009) Preparation, structure, and electrochemical properties of reduced graphene sheet films. Adv Funct Mater 19:2782–2789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Antolini E, Cardellini F (2001) Formation of carbon supported PtRu alloys: an XRD analysis. J Alloys Compd 315:118–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kou R, Shao Y, Wang D, Engelhard MH, Kwak JH, Wang J, Viswanathan VV, Wang C, Lin Y, Wang Y, Aksay IA, Liu J (2009) Enhanced activity and stability of Pt catalysts on functionalized graphene sheets for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction. Electrochem Commun 11:954–957

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Litster S, McLean G (2004) PEM fuel cell electrodes. J Power Sources 130:61–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Guo S, Sun S (2012) FePt nanoparticles assembled on graphene as enhanced catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction. J Am Chem Soc 134:2492–2495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. He D, Cheng K, Peng T, Pan M, Mu S (2013) Graphene/carbon nanospheres sandwich supported PEM fuel cell metal nanocatalysts with remarkably high activity and stability. J Mater Chem A 1:2126–2132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wu J, Zhang D, Wang Y, Hou B (2013) Electrocatalytic activity of nitrogen-doped graphene synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal process towards oxygen reduction reaction. J Power Sources 227:185–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Parambhath VB, Nagar R, Sethupathi K, Ramaprabhu S (2011) Investigation of spillover mechanism in palladium decorated hydrogen exfoliated functionalized graphene. J Phys Chem C 115:15679–15685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Li Y, Gao W, Ci L, Wang C, Ajayan PM (2010) Catalytic performance of Pt nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide for methanol electro-oxidation. Carbon 48:1124–1130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhang X, Xia G, Huang C, Wang Y (2015) Effect of the pretreatment on the performances of graphene composite-supported Pt nanoparticle electrocatalyst. Ionics 21:449–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Li W, Haldar P (2009) Supportless PdFe nanorods as highly active electrocatalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Electrochem Commun 11:1195–1198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Huang H, Chen H, Sun D, Wang X (2012) Graphene nanoplate-Pt composite as a high performance electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells. J Power Sources 204:46–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Prabhuram J, Manoharan R (1998) Investigation of methanol oxidation on unsupported platinum electrodes in strong alkali and strong acid. J Power Sources 74:54–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Paredes JI, Villar-Rodil S, Solís-Fernández P, Martínez-Alonso A, Tascón JMD (2009) Atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy imaging of graphene nanosheets derived from graphite oxide. Langmuir 25:5957–5968

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gao H, Liao S, Liang Z, Liang H, Luo F (2011) Anodic oxidation of ethanol on core-shell structured Ru@PtPd/C catalyst in alkaline media. J Power Sources 196:6138–6143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U1404201), Program for Technology Innovation Team in Universities of Henan Province, China (No. 16IRTSTHN016), Foundation for Young Core Teacher by Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (No. 2013XGGJS007), and the Graduate’s Scientific Research Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (No. 2015002) for the financial support of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Material and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, 450001, People’s Republic of China

    Haili Gao, Lilie He, Yong Zhang, Shengli Zhang & Lizhen Wang

  2. Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Surface Interface Science, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, 450001, People’s Republic of China

    Haili Gao, Yong Zhang & Lizhen Wang

Authors
  1. Haili Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lilie He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shengli Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lizhen Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Haili Gao or Lizhen Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gao, H., He, L., Zhang, Y. et al. Facile synthesis of Pt nanoparticles supported on graphene/Vulcan XC-72 carbon and their application for methanol oxidation. Ionics 23, 435–442 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1861-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1861-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation