title: Ferritin-templated synthesis and self-assembly of Pt nanoparticles on a monolithic porous graphene network for electrocatalysis in fuel cells.
abstract: The monolithic three-dimensional (3D) graphene network is used as the support for Pt nanoparticles (NPs) to fabricate an advanced 3D graphene-based electrocatalyst. Distinct from previous strategies, the monodispersed Pt NPs with ultrafine particle size (∼3 nm) are synthesized using ferritin protein nanocages as the template and subsequently self-assembled on the 3D graphene by leveraging on the hydrophobic interaction between the ferritin and the graphene. Following the self-assembly, the ferritins are removed, resulting in a stable Pt NP/3D graphene composite. The composite exhibits much enhanced electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation as compared with both Pt NP/chemically reduced graphene oxide (Pt/r-GO) and state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst. The observed electrocatalytic activity also shows marked improvement over Pt/3D graphene prepared by pulse electrodeposition of Pt. This study demonstrates that protein nanocage templating and assembly are promising strategies for the fabrication of functional composites in catalysis and fuel cell applications.
authors: Division of Bioengineering, School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, Block N1.3, Singapore 637457.
authors: Huajun
authors: H
authors: Qiu
authors: Xiaochen
authors: X
authors: Dong
authors: Barindra
authors: B
authors: Sana
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Peng
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Paramelle
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Chen
authors: Sierin
authors: S
authors: Lim
mesh_terms: D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D019611:Archaeoglobus fulgidus; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D002384:Catalysis; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D010984:Platinum; D006108:Graphite; D005293:Ferritins