Nanoscale 2014-12-21

Platinum nanoparticles on porphyrin functionalized graphene nanosheets as a superior catalyst for methanol electrooxidation.

Rui-Xiang Wang, Jing-Jing Fan, You-Jun Fan, Jing-Ping Zhong, Li Wang, Shi-Gang Sun, Xing-Can Shen

Index: Nanoscale 6(24) , 14999-15007, (2014)

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Abstract

A novel nanostructured catalyst of platinum nanoparticles supported on 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)porphyrin tetra(p-toluenesulfonate) (TMPyP) functionalized graphene (TMPyP-graphene) is synthesized by the hydrothermal polyol process. The as-synthesized nanocomposites are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical tests. It has been found that Pt nanoparticles of ca. 3.4 nm are uniformly dispersed on the surface of TMPyP-graphene, and hold a high electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of 126.2 m(2) g(-1). The results demonstrate that the Pt/TMPyP-graphene catalyst exhibits a much higher electrocatalytic activity and stability than the Pt/graphene and commercial Pt/C catalysts for methanol oxidation, which is of significant importance in improving the efficiency of Pt-based electrocatalysts for DMFCs applications.