title: Self-assembled platinum nanoparticles on sulfonic acid-grafted graphene as effective electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells.
abstract: In this article, sulfonic acid-grafted reduced graphene oxide (S-rGO) were synthesized using a one-pot method under mild conditions, and used as Pt catalyst supports to prepare Pt/S-rGO electrocatalysts through a self-assembly route. The structure, morphologies and physicochemical properties of S-rGO were examined in detail by techniques such as atomic force microscope (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The S-rGO nanosheets show excellent solubility and stability in water and the average particle size of Pt nanoparticles supported on S-rGO is ~3.8 nm with symmetrical and uniform distribution. The electrocatalytic properties of Pt/S-rGO were investigated for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). In comparison to Pt supported on high surface area Vulcan XC-72 carbon (Pt/VC) and Pt/rGO, the Pt/S-rGO electrocatalyst exhibits a much higher electrocatalytic activity, faster reaction kinetics and a better stability. The results indicate that Pt/S-rGO is a promising and effective electrocatalyst for MOR of DMFCs.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials and Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan 114051, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: School of Materials and Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan 114051, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Materials and Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan 114051, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Fuels and Energy Technology Institute &Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
authors.forename: San Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jiang