Electrosynthesized Reduced Graphene Oxide-Supported Platinum, Platinum-Copper and Platinum-Nickel Nanoparticles on Carbon-Ceramic Electrode for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Ethanol in Acidic Media

In this work, the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol was studied in acidic media at the wholly electrosynthesized nanocomposites: platinum and its alloys (copper and nickel) anoparticles/reduced graphene oxide on the carbon-ceramic electrode (Pt/rGO/CCE, Pt-Cu/rGO/CCE, and Pt-Ni/rGO/CCE electrocatalysts). The electrosynthesized nanocomposites </span>were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and energy-dispersive</span></span> X-ray spectroscopy. </span></span>Electrocatalytic activities of the Pt/rGO/CCE, Pt-Cu/rGO/CCE and Pt-Ni/rGO/CCE toward ethanol oxidation were investigated via cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric techniques in 0.1 M H2</sub>SO4 </sub>solution containing 0.3 M ethanol. The obtained results show that the Pt-Ni/rGO/CCE was catalytically more active and exhibits better electrocatalytic performance toward ethanol oxidation (ECSA=25.28, Jpf=0.156 mA/cm2</sup>, Jpf/Jpb=1.12 and Eonset</sub>=0.2 V) than Pt-Cu/rGO/CCE (ECSA=19.09, Jpf=0.108 mA/cm2</sup>, Jpf/Jpb=0.99 and Eonset</sub>=0.3 V) and Pt/rGO/CCE (ECSA=28.28, Jpf=0.092 mA/cm2</sup>, Jpf/Jpb=0.55 and Eonset</sub>=0.35 V). The result of some effective and important investigational factors was studied and optimize conditions were suggested. Based on the </span>obtained data</span> one can be expected</span> that the studied systems are promising systems for ethanol fuel cell applications.