A Facile Approach for Synthesis of a Novel WO3-gC3N4/Pt-Sn-Os Catalyst and Its Application for Methanol Electro-oxidation

In the present work, a novel WO3-gC(3)N(4)/Pt-Sn-Os catalyst was synthesized and used for fabrication of a modified electrode for electro-oxidation of methanol molecules. The WO3-gC(3)N(4) nanocomposite was transferred onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and then, the surface of the modified electrode was potentiostatically coated with Pt-Sn-Os ternary alloy nanoparticles. The morphology of the prepared electrode (GCE/WO3-gC(3)N(4)/Pt-Sn-Os), was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The electro-oxidation of methanol molecules on the surface of GC/WO3-gC(3)N(4)/Pt-Sn-Os modified electrode was studied using various electrochemical methods such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The charge transfer resistance and the double layer capacitance were determined by the EIS measurements. The electro-oxidation of methanol molecules was also investigated from kinetic point of view using the proposed modified electrode. The electrocatalytic performance of the modified electrode was also compared with the other constructed electrodes for methanol oxidation.