International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 2019
The Fabrication of Pt/Co Nanocomposite Supported on Reduced Graphene Oxide for Methanol Oxidation
Abstract
Cobalt modified Pt-based nanocatalysts supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pt-Co/RGO) was fabricated by a magnetically enhanced inductively coupled plasma (ME-ICP). The analytical results indicated that the objective materials with appropriate particle size, uniform particle distribution, and superior crystal structure were synthesized. The catalytic activity of Pt-based catalyst for methanol oxidation was improved, attributing to the utilization of graphene supports and the metal cobalt. The electrochemically active surface area of Pt-Co/RGO and Pt utilization efficiency is calculated to be 789 cm·mg and 69.3%, which is about 6.4 times and 2.88 times higher than the 20 wt.% commercial Pt/C catalyst respectively. The If of Pt-Co/RGO is measured to be 410 mA·mg , which is 4.1 times higher than Pt/RGO and 8 times higher than 20 wt.% Pt/C catalyst. The If/Ib ratios of Pt/C, Pt/RGO and Pt-Co/RGO are 1.09, 1.10, and 1.13, respectively. The highest If/Ib ratio of Pt-Co/RGO demonstrates that Pt-Co/RGO has a less carbonaceous accumulation and much more tolerance toward CO poisoning.