Photo-excited in situ loading of Pt clusters onto rGO immobilized SnO2 with excellent catalytic performance toward methanol oxidation. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Shouliang; Liu, Jun; Liang, Dewei; Sun, Hongmei; Ye, Yixing; Tian, Zhenfei; Liang, Changhao
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 26(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 699
• Page End: 707
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Pt cluster -- Hybrid composite electrocatalyst -- Photo-excited reduction -- Methanol oxidation -- Laser ablation in liquids; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.06.038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Maximizing the surface area and the exposed active sites of Pt-based catalysts is one of the most effective strategies to improve their electrocatalytic performance. We here present an environmentally friendly construction of a two-dimensional Pt/SnO2 /reduced-graphene-oxide (rGO) nanocomposite as a active and durable electrocatalyst. Initially, liquid-phase laser ablation generated highly reactive SnO x nanoparticles (NPs) were used as a precursor to transform the graphene oxide into rGO. Simultaneously, the initial amorphous-like SnO x can further crystallize into SnO2 NPs, which were uniformly anchored onto rGO sheets. Subsequently, the electrons photo-excited from semiconductor SnO2 were used as green reducing agents, which can in situ reduce the PtCl6 2+ ions to form ultrafine Pt NPs with an average size of about 1–2 nm that uniformly dispersed onto SnO2 NPs. Compared with Pt/rGO catalysts without SnO2 modification, the Pt/SnO2 /rGO hybrid ternary catalysts not only show larger electrochemical active surface area and higher catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation, but also exhibit better long-term cycle stability and better tolerance toward CO-like species. Such significantly enhanced electrochemical performance could be attributed to the uniformly dispersed fine Pt NPs and the synergetic effect from the hybrid noble metal-semiconductor-carbon network components. Graphical abstract: Utilizing the high reactivity of non-stoichiometric SnOx and the photo-excited electrons, Pt clusters can be in situ generated and uniformly anchored on the surface of semiconductor SnO2 to form a rGO supported hybrid catalyst, which present high activity and long-term durable performance for methanol oxidation. Highlights: Laser induced non-stoichiometric SnOx show unique reactivity in aqueous solution of GO. Photo-excited electrons from semiconductor assisted formation of Pt clusters that in situ dispersed onto SnO2 . The synergetic effect from Pt/SnO2 /rGO results in high catalytic activity and long-term durable performance for methanol oxidation.