Preparation and electroactivity of polymer-functionalized graphene oxide-supported platinum nanoparticles catalysts

Polymer-functionalized graphene oxide or pristine graphene oxide supported platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) was prepared to study the surface modification effects. The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical activities of Pt NPs were measured by cyclic voltammograms. The poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) was used as a modifier agent which formed a functionalized layer on graphene oxide (GO) sheets. As a result, the electrochemical active surface area (ESA) of PDDA functionalized GO supported Pt (Pt/PDDA-graphene) was shown to 66 m(2)/g that indicated higher hydrogen adsorption amount than 55 m(2)/g of the pristine Pt/graphene. In addition, an average particle size of Pt/PDDA-graphene NPs was measured to 1.8 nm slightly smaller than 2.0 nm of pristine Pt/graphene NPs. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.