Small-sized and highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles loading on graphite nanoplatelets as an effective catalyst for methanol oxidation

A series of high loading Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with a small particle size uniformly dispersed on graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) have been synthesized in the presence of an imidazolium-based ionic liquid (Pt/I-IL (x)/GNPs). I-IL, an amphoteric ion used as an additive agent to stabilize Pt NPs, can also prevent the aggregation of the GNPs. The results obtained from X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electrochemical testing showed that the I-IL assisted synthesis method resulted in size reduction of Pt NPs, an improvement of Pt dispersion on GNPs, and the identification of the relationships between the mean size of Pt NPs and the volume of I-IL. Among all as-prepared Pt/GNP catalysts with or without I-IL assisted, the sample with 10 microliters of I-IL assisted (Pt/I-IL (10)/GNPs) exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity and the best stability toward the methanol oxidation reaction. Moreover, the Pt/I-IL (10)/GNP catalyst markedly outperforms the commercial Pt/C from Johnson Matthey in terms of both methanol oxidation activity and stability, revealed by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.