Reduced graphene oxide-poly-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-Pt/Ag nanoscrolls and its electrocatalytic performance for oxidation of methanol

The reduced graphene oxide-poly-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-Pt/Ag (RGO-PDMAEMA-Pt/Ag) nanoscrolls were formed by rolling up the RGO-PDMAEMA-Pt/Ag sheets under freezing conditions. The composition and structure of RGO-PDMAEMA-Pt/Ag sheets and nanoscrolls are characterized. RGO-PDMAEMA-Pt/Ag nanoscrolls showed high electrocatalytic performance of methanol owing to the synergistic effect of Pt/Ag NPs and the long stability caused by the PDMAEMA which effectively avoid the aggregation and falling of Pt/Ag NPs and the unique scrolled structure. The ESCA value of RGO-PDMAEMA-Pt/Ag nanoscrolls for Pt is 891 cm2/mg, which is 1.28 times higher than that of the RGO-PDMAEMA-Pt/Ag sheets (698 cm2/mg) and the ratio of the forward oxidation peak current (If) to the reverse peak current (Ib), (If/Ib) is about 1.25. The good electrochemical results indicate the RGO-PDMAEMA-Pt/Ag nanoscrolls are promising electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cell.176