Green electrochemical synthesis of Pt/graphene sheet nanocomposite film and its electrocatalytic property

Nanocomposite films of platinum nanoparticle-deposited expandable graphene sheet (Pt/EGS) are fabricated on conductive indium tin oxide glass electrodes via a green electrochemical synthetic route involving a series of electrochemical processes. The microstructure and morphology of the prepared film samples are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, three-dimensional non-contact surface mapping, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. At the same time, the catalytic activity and stability of the Pt/EGS film for the oxidation of methanol are evaluated through cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry tests. The Pt nanoparticles in the Pt/EGS nanocomposite film are found to be uniformly distributed on the EGS. The as-synthesized Pt/EGS nanocomposite exhibits high catalytic activity and good stability for the oxidation of methanol, which may be attributed to its excellent electrical conductivity and the high specific surface area of the graphene sheet catalyst support. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.