title: Uniform Functionalization of High-Quality Graphene with Platinum Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Water Reduction.
abstract: Graphene-metal composites have potential as novel catalysts due to their unique electrical properties. Here, we report the synthesis of a composite material comprised of monodispersed platinum nanoparticles on high-quality graphene obtained by using two different exfoliation techniques. The material, prepared via an easy, low-cost and reproducible procedure, was evaluated as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The turnover frequency at zero overpotential (TOF0 in 0.1 m phosphate buffer, pH 6.8) was determined to be approximately 4600 h(-1). This remarkably high value is likely due to the optimal dispersion of the platinum nanoparticles on the graphene substrate, which enables the material to be loaded with only very small amounts of the noble metal (i.e., Pt) despite the very highly active surface. This study provides a new outlook on the design of novel materials for the development of robust and scalable water-splitting devices.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy ; Institute for Microelectronics & Microsystems (IMM)-Bologna, National Research Council (CNR) Via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzaro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcaccio
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy ; Interuniversity Consortium for Science & Technology of Materials-Bologna Research Unit (INSTM UdR Bologna) Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy ; Institute for Energetics & Interphases (IENI)-National Research Council (CNR), Bologna Associate Unit, University of Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microelectronics & Microsystems (IMM)-Bologna, National Research Council (CNR) Via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortolani
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microelectronics & Microsystems (IMM)-Bologna, National Research Council (CNR) Via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ceroni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy ; Interuniversity Consortium for Science & Technology of Materials-Bologna Research Unit (INSTM UdR Bologna) Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy ; Center for Nanoscience & Technology, Istituto Italiano Tecnologia (IIT) at PoliMi Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bergamini
keywords: electrocatalysis; graphene; platinum nanoparticles; water reduction