Well-dispersive Pt nanoparticles grown on 3D nitrogen- and sulfur-codoped graphene nanoribbon architectures: highly active electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation

Although platinum and its derivatives are generally recognized as the most efficient anode materials for direct methanol fuel cells, their high usage costs and poor poison tolerance largely hamper the large-scale commercial application. Here, we present a convenient bottom-up approach to the fabrication of well-dispersive Pt nanoparticles grown on 3D nitrogen-and sulfur-codoped graphene nanoribbon (Pt/NS-GNR) architectures via a self-assembly process. With a series of intriguing structural features, including large specific surface area, 3D interpenetrating porous carbon networks, a large presence of N and S dopants and homogeneous dispersion of ultrafine Pt nanoparticles, the obtained Pt/NS-GNR hybrid possesses a large electrochemically active surface area, high electrocatalytic activity, reliable long-term durability, as well as good antitoxic ability toward methanol oxidation reaction, far surpassing those of conventional Pt catalysts deposited on commercial carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and undoped graphene nanoribbon supports. Theoretical simulations further reveal that there are strong electronic interactions between metal and matrix, which could not only immobilize the Pt particles onto the 3D NS-GNR frameworks but also weaken the CO adsorption on the catalytic sites, thereby syner-gistically promoting the methanol oxidation catalytic efficiency. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A convenient approach was proposed to fabricate Pt nanoparticles grown on 3D nitrogen-and sulfur-codoped graphene nanoribbons, leading to the formation of Pt/NS-GNR materials with superior performance such as large electrochemically active surface area, high electrocatalytic activity, reliable durability, and good antitoxic ability. Theoretical simulations revealed strong electronic interactions between metal and matrix, which immobilize Pt particles onto the 3D NS-GNR frameworks and weaken CO adsorption, thereby promoting the methanol oxidation catalytic efficiency.