Superior catalytic performances of platinum nanoparticles loaded nitrogen-doped graphene toward methanol oxidation and hydrogen evolution reaction

The catalysts with excellent catalytic properties and low-cost are still highly desirable in many fields, such as fuel cells. In respect of this challenge, we have synthesized high-quality platinum nanoparticles loaded nitrogen-doped graphene (Pt/NG) by using formic acid as reduction agent and commercial available nitrogen-doped graphene (N-graphene) as supporting materials. The morphology and component characterization demonstrate that high-loading Pt nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2.5 nm were uniformly dispersed on nitrogen-doped graphene. The resulting Pt/NG exhibit higher catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and hydrogen evolution reaction compared with commercial Pt/C or self-synthesized platinum nanoparticles-loaded graphene. The superior catalytic performance of Pt/NG are discussed, and ascribed to the well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles and abundant edge plane sites on N-graphene. The resultant Pt/NG with high catalytic properties and cost-effective may emerge as a promising high-performance catalyst for fuel cells. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc.