Fabrication of graphene-porous carbon–Pt nanocomposites with high electrocatalytic activity and durability for methanol oxidation

Abstract

Nobel metal catalysts (e.g., Pt) are mostly used as the electrode materials for fuel cells due to their high electrocatalytic activity. The electrocatalytic activity, durability and utilization efficiency of the catalysts strongly depend on the textural features of the support. In this work, a novel 2D porous carbon substrate, graphene-based porous carbon, is designed as the catalyst support. Highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles with a diameter of 2–3 nm can be controllably fabricated on graphene-based porous carbon, and show dramatically improved electrocatalytic activity and durability for methanol oxidation compared to Pt nanoparticles supported by porous carbon or graphene. The excellent electrocatalytic behavior can be attributed to the unique textural features of graphene-based porous carbon, which inherits the advantages of graphene and porous carbon, including a high surface area, high electronic conductivity, and high dispersion of catalysts with a controllable particle size.