Noble Metal Dispersed on Reduced Graphene Oxide and Its Application in PEM Fuel Cells

Abstract

Metal-dispersed nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide as catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) demonstrate promising applications in the energy sector. The catalyst activity enhancement and stability improvement investigated in this study are mandatory steps in obtaining feasible electrodes for PEMFC. The chapter deals with the synthesis of noble metal catalysts including platinum and gold nanoparticles dispersed on reduced graphene oxide (PtNPs/rGO and AuNPs/rGrO). The understanding of the correlations between the electrochemical activity on one side and the structure, composition and synthesis method on the other side are provided. Facile routes in order to prepare the well dispersed PtNPs/rGO and AuNPs/rGrO are included. The structure and morphology were characterized by different techniques, namely X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), specific surface area measurements. In this context we report a hybrid derived electrocatalyst with increased electrochemical active area and enhanced mass-transport properties. The electrochemical performances of PtNPs/rGO and AuNPs/rGrO were tested and compared with a standard PEMFC configuration. The performed electrochemical characterization recommends the prepared materials as ORR electrocatalysts for the further fabrication of cathodes for PEM fuel cells. The research directions as well as perspectives on the subsequent development of more active and less expensive electrocatalysts are established.

Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Dispersed Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization and Electrochemical Evaluation for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…Also, the high-resolution STEM images which are shown in Figure 3a,c give information about the interplanar distance of the prepared sample. The interplanar distance marked in the first profile corresponds to the plane (111) face-centered cubic structure of gold nanoparticles, which is in good agreement with the XRD results shown below, in Figure 4 [23]. In the XRD diffractogram the peak for rGO is present at 2θ = 23.54° corresponding to the (002) orientation [26].…”

“…The fabrication of gold nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (AuNPs/rGO) is presented. The detailed description of the first intermediary compound, graphite oxide, was presented in our previous research [21][22][23][24][25]. The Graphite oxide material was prepared from natural graphite using the modified Hummers method.…”