Journal of Materials Science, Vol.48, No.6, 2670-2680, 2013
Metal nanoparticle templating and electrocatalytic modification using functionalized graphene sheets
Metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles (Ni, Ru, Pt, Fe@Fe2O3 NPs) supported on commercial Functionalized Graphene Sheets (FGS) were synthesized using a simple one-pot method in the absence of traditional surfactants or reducing agents from their respective precursor solutions. The supported NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction techniques and found to be relatively monodisperse in size and metallic in nature. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the FGSs were found to contain slight impurities that appear to have their origin in the manufacturing process and are not completely removed through solvent (water or acetone) washing. Electrochemical analysis (rotating disk electrochemistry and CO stripping) of the FGS-Pt NPs was used to compare the metal-support interactions by monitoring the catalytic activity for CO-tolerant H-2 electro-oxidation. The results are compared to related materials in the literature and suggest that the metal-support interactions can be varied to dramatically alter the catalytic activity of the catalyst system.