Graphene Supported-Pt-M (M = Ru or Pd) for Electrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation

Different methods for preparation of a highly efficient catalyst made of a hybrid of graphene and submicron structured Pt-Ru or Pt-Pd is illustrated for methanol oxidation. Graphene is prepared chemically using microwave method or electrochemically by reducing graphene oxide (GO). Glassy carbon (GC) electrodes are modified with the catalyst. The electrocatalytic activity of the surface is examined for methanol oxidation with cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and chronocoulometry (CC). The electrocatalytic activity is doubled when graphene is modified with Pt-Pd and increases five times in case of Pt-Ru compared to GC - Pt-Pd and Pt-Ru electrodes, respectively. SEM and AFM are used to characterize the catalyst morphology and surface roughness of the catalyst. Effect of catalyst loading, temperature, stability, and methanol concentration on the catalyst efficiency are presented.