Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of PtRuMo Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene-Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposites for Methanol Electro-Oxidation

Abstract

Graphene-carbon nanotubes (G-CNTs) nanocomposites supported PtRuMo catalyst was synthesized by chemical reduction of metal precursors with sodium borohydride at room temperature. The crystallographic properties, morphology and composition of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and the catalytic performance for methanol electro-oxidation was measured by CO stripping voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the catalytic activity and stability of the PtRuMo/G-CNTs catalyst are higher than those of PtRuMo/G and PtRuMo/CNTs catalysts. The improved catalytic performance of PtRuMo/G-CNTs could be related to the higher electrochemically active surface area of PtRuMo nanoparticles due to the prevention of the restacking of graphene as well as the enhancement of the electronic conductivity and the mass transport of the reactants, products and electrolytes in G-CNTs nanocomposites.