title: Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Highly Dispersed PtCu Nanoparticles on Three-Dimensional Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Networks with Remarkably Enhanced Methanol Electrooxidation.
abstract: A well-dispersed PtCu alloy nanoparticles (NPs) on three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene (PtCu/3D N-G) electrocatalyst has been successfully synthesized by a conventional hydrothermal method combined with a high-efficiency microwave-assisted polyol process. The morphology, composition, and structures are well-characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammograms illustrate that the as-prepared PtCu/3D N-G electrocatalyst possesses the larger electrochemical active surface area, lower onset potential, higher current density, and better tolerance to CO poisoning than PtCu NPs on reduced graphene oxide and XC-72 carbon black in acid solution. In addition, long-time chronoamperometry reveals that the PtCu/3D N-G catalyst exhibits excellent stability even longer than 60 min toward acid methanol electrooxidation. The remarkably enhanced performance is related to the combined effects of uniformly interconnected three-dimensional porous graphene networks, nitrogen doping, modified Pt alloy NPs, and strong binding force between Pt alloy NPs and 3D N-G structures.
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xinglan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Duhong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiulin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Mengliu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chien-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Rajapandiyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panneerselvam
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jianniao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Guangxi Normal University , Guilin 541004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yanchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: PtCu alloy nanoparticles; direct methanol fuel cells; methanol electrooxidation; microwave-assisted synthesis; three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene