Highly efficient electrocatalytic performance based on Pt nanoflowers modified reduced graphene oxide/carbon cloth electrode

Abstract

In this paper, a facile electrochemical approach is developed towards synthesizing Pt nanoflowers modified reduced graphene oxide (RGO) wrapped carbon cloth (CC) as an anode (Pt nanoflowers/RGO/CCE) for formic acid and methanol electrooxidation. As revealed by SEM measurements, the carbon cloth is well wrapped by the RGO, and the RGO wrapped carbon cloth serves as an excellent support for electrochemically anchoring Pt nanoflowers, being more well-dispersed than without RGO. Compared with Pt nanoparticles/CCE, Pt nanoparticles/RGO/CCE, and Pt nanoflowers/CCE, the Pt nanoflowers/RGO/CCE displays a distinctly enhanced current density of CVs towards formic acid and methanol electrooxidation. The utilization of graphene results in well-dispersed Pt nanostructures with a uniform size and unique morphology structure; a relatively large surface area; and excellent electron or charge transfer rate, contributing to the enhanced electrocatalytic activity. The work likely opens up new promise for developing novel, low-cost yet highly efficient carbon material-based electrodes, especially for direct formic acid fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells.