Electrochemical fabrication of long-term stable Pt-loaded PEDOT/graphene composites for ethanol electrooxidation

Layered electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ER-GO) sheets incorporated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have been fabricated as an efficient support for Pt nanoparticles on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The as-prepared Pt-loaded PEDOT/ER-GO composite electrode exhibits not only the high mass peak current density (390 A g−1) but also the good long-term catalytic stability toward the ethanol electrooxidation. The Pt/PEDOT/ER-GO also shows stronger tolerance to poisoning species compared with the commercial JM 20% Pt/C electrode. The high electrocatalytic activity of Pt/PEDOT/ER-GO is mainly described to the good electrochemical activity of PEDOT/ER-GO composites and the well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles resulting in the large electrochemical active surface area of Pt (47.1 m2 g−1).

► Electrochemical fabrication of ternary composite catalyst Pt/PEDOT/ER-GO.
► Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles on PEDOT/ER-GO.
► Enhanced catalytic activity toward ethanol electrooxidation on Pt/PEDOT/ER-GO.
► Good long-term electrocatalytic stability of Pt/PEDOT/ER-GO.