Facile synthesis of graphene nanoplate-supported porous Pt–Cu alloys with high electrocatalytic properties for methanol oxidation

Abstract

In this work, a simple and facile aqueous solution method was developed for the synthesis of uniform porous Pt–Cu nanocrystals (NCs) supported on 1-aminopyrene functionalized graphene nanoplates (p-Pt–Cu/AP-GNPs), without any high boiling point organic solvents, surfactants, stabilizers and templates. The as-prepared p-Pt–Cu/AP-GNP catalysts exhibit superior electrocatalytic activities and stabilities for methanol oxidation under alkaline conditions compared to Pt/AP-GNPs and Pt/C-JM, and the electrocatalytic performance varies with the relative content of Pt and Cu with the p-Pt₁Cu₁/AP-GNP catalyst topping all p-Pt–Cu/AP-GNP catalysts studied. This strategy may open a new route to design and prepare superior electrocatalysts for fuel cells.