Comparison of Electrocatalytic Properties of PtCo/Graphene Catalysts for Ethanol, Methanol and Borohydride Oxidation

Abstract

In this study the graphene supported PtCo catalyst with the Pt:Co molar ratio equal to 1:7 was fabricated by means of the rapid microwave heating method with the aim to use it in an alkaline fuel cells, using ethanol, methanol and borohydride as fuel. It was found that the PtCo/GR catalyst with an average particle size of ca. 1-3 nm was synthesized by means of microwave heating of Pt(IV) and Co(II) salts in ethylene glycol solutions. The PtCo/GR catalyst shows an enhanced activity towards the oxidation of H2 generated by catalytic hydrolysis of BH4 – and direct oxidation of BH4 – ions as well as methanol and ethanol oxidation as compared with that at the graphene supported bare Co and Pt/C catalysts. It should be noted that the electrocatalytic activity of the PtCo/GR catalyst depends on the type of fuel.