A New Method For Synthesizing High Performance Few-Layer Graphene Supported Pt Electrocatalysts In Methanol And Ethanol Oxidation

Here, new catalysts for application in the Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells (DMFC and DEFC), comprising of 1-8 wt% Pt dispersed on few layer graphene (FLG), are successfully synthesized, by means of a rapid, simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly one-pot method. The mass activity of the PFG3 catalyst for methanol, in acid and alkaline media, was 25,243 mA mg(Pt)(-1) and 112,882 mA mg(Pt)(-1), respectively; for ethanol, in acid and alkaline media, was 25,00 0 mA mg(Pt)(-1) and 65,272 mA mg(Pt)(-1), respectively. These values were from tens to hundreds of times higher than those recently published for graphene-support Pt electrocatalysts. Our results suggest that the one-pot synthesis method result in simultaneous exfoliation, reduction and deposition during microwave irradiation in a very short time for producing catalysts with extremely high electrochemical performance, which may be effective alternative method for synthesis of electrocatalysts for DMFC and DEFC. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.