Synthesis of Pt/rGO catalysts with two different reducing agents and their methanol electrooxidation activity

• Pt/rGO catalysts were successfully synthesized using either NaBH4 or ethylene glycol.
• Synthesis using NaBH4 could improve electrocatalytic towards methanol oxidation of Pt/rGO catalyst.
• 40%Pt/rGO synthesized using NaBH4 showed the best electrocatalytic performance.

The synthesis processes of Platinum (Pt) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) catalysts from graphene oxide (GO) using two reducing agents including sodium borohydride and ethylene glycol is reported. Structure and morphology of Pt/rGO catalysts are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrocatalytic methanol oxidation properties of these catalysts are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results show that catalyst synthesized using sodium borohydride has a higher metallic Pt content and an improved catalytic performance in comparison to catalyst synthesized using ethylene glycol. Moreover, effect of Pt loading amount on electrocatalytic methanol oxidation performance of catalysts synthesized using sodium borohydride is systematically investigated. The optimal Pt loading amount on graphene is determined to be 40%.

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