Electrochemical preparation of an electrocatalytical layer containing hollow platinum nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide on the pencil graphite electrode for hydrogen evolving reaction

Fuel cells are the electrochemical devices for the direct conversion of the chemical energy in the fuel into high-efficiency electricity, which requires a high-efficiency catalytic converter. In this study, graphene oxide was first reduced by electrochemical method on the pencil graphite electrode, and then the Cobalt nanoparticles were deposited on the reduced graphene oxide with electrochemical deposition method. Finally, the hollow platinum nanoparticles were created by the Galvani displacement reaction of platinum ions with nanoparticles of cobalt. Optimization of the electrode components was done by the central composition design method. In order to investigate the structure and microstructure of synthesized electrocatalyst, the techniques of field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmitted electron microscopy were used. The obtained electronic images represent the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles on the pencil graphite electrode. The results of the electrochemical tests indicate the proper performance of the catalytic surface and its high stability as a working electrode in the reaction of hydrogen evolving in a three-electrode system.