Activated carbon as support of gold-platinum nanoparticles for the D-glucose electrochemical oxidation in alkaline solution

Carbon microspheres were synthesised using biomass materials (such as glucose, cellulose, etc.) as precursors by hydrothermal carbonisation route. Activated carbon (AC) was obtained by sintering and activation of these carbon microspheres and characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis. Electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose was studied in alkaline solution on AC-supported gold-platinum nanoparticles by cyclic voltammetry method. It was found that Au-Pt catalyst loaded on this carbon material had better electrochemical oxidation efficiency than that loaded on commercial carbon black.