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Sonochemical synthesis of graphene oxide supported Pt–Pd alloy nanocrystals as efficient electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation

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Abstract

Pt–Pd bimetallic nanoparticles supported on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were prepared by a sonochemical reduction method in the presence of polyethylene glycol as a stabilizing agent. The synthetic method allowed for a fine tuning of the particle composition without significant changes in their size and degree of aggregation. Detailed characterization of GO-supported Pt–Pd catalysts was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), AFM, XPS, and electrochemical techniques. Uniform deposition of Pt–Pd nanoparticles with an average diameter of 3 nm was achieved on graphene nanosheets using a novel dual-frequency sonication approach. GO-supported bimetallic catalyst showed significant electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation. The influence of different molar compositions of Pt and Pd (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1) on the methanol oxidation efficiency was also evaluated. Among the different Pt/Pd ratios, the 1:1 ratio material showed the lowest onset potential and generated the highest peak current density. The effect of catalyst loading on carbon paper (working electrode) was also studied. Increasing the catalyst loading beyond a certain amount lowered the catalytic activity due to the aggregation of metal particle-loaded GO nanosheets.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge financial support from the Australian Research Council (ARC). The financial supports of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Spanish–Indian bilateral project PRI-PIBIN-2011-0816, and SERB (SR/FT/CS-127/2011), DST, New Delhi, India, are also gratefully acknowledged. Dr. José González-García passed away before this article could be submitted for publication. We want to express our appreciation for him being a great coworker and friend.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Bernaurdshaw Neppolian, Franz Grieser & Muthupandian Ashokkumar

  2. SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Chennai, 603203, India

    Bernaurdshaw Neppolian

  3. Departament de Química Física i Institut Universitari d’Electroquímica, Universitat d’Alacant, Apartat 99, E-03080, Alacant, Spain

    Verónica Sáez, José González-García & Roberto Gómez

Authors
  1. Bernaurdshaw Neppolian
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  2. Verónica Sáez
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  3. José González-García
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  4. Franz Grieser
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  5. Roberto Gómez
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  6. Muthupandian Ashokkumar
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Roberto Gómez or Muthupandian Ashokkumar.

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José González-García—deceased.

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Neppolian, B., Sáez, V., González-García, J. et al. Sonochemical synthesis of graphene oxide supported Pt–Pd alloy nanocrystals as efficient electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation. J Solid State Electrochem 18, 3163–3171 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-014-2562-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-014-2562-4

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