International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.42, No.33, 21131-21145, 2017
Superior electrocatalytic activity of Pt-SrCoO3-delta nanoparticles supported on functionalized reduced graphene oxide-chitosan for ethanol oxidation
Here, Pt-SrCoO3-delta was synthesized through a sol gel method and characterized with X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Graphene oxide was synthesized by a modified Hummers' method, then functionalized with 1, 1'-dimethyl-4, 4'-bipyridinium dichloride (methyl viologen) accompanied by Chitosan to prepare novel MV-RGO-CH. This was used as a support for nanoparticles to get Pt-SrCoO3-delta/MV-RGO-CH nanocomposite. Transmission electron microscopy image was used to show the morphology and distribution of nanoparticles. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt-SrCoO3-delta/MV-RGO-CH nanocomposite for ethanol electrooxidation was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, COads stripping voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The effects of some experimental factors for ethanol oxidation on the prepared" nanocomposite were investigated and the optimum conditions were suggested. Pt-SrCoO3-delta/MV-RGO-CH nanocomposite showed higher catalytic activities than Pt/MV-RGO-CH for ethanol electrooxidation indicating that Pt-SrCoO3-delta/MV-RGO-CH nanocomposite could be a promising catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cells applications. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.