Improved electrocatalytic activity of Pt-SrCoO3-δ nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide for methanol electrooxidation

In this study, graphene oxide was prepared by a modified Hummers’ method and used as support for dispersing of nanoparticles. SrCoO3-δ nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction technique. They were used accompanied by Pt nanoparticles on the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) support for preparing of Pt-SrCoO3-δ-RGO catalyst. Transmission electron microscopy images were used to show the morphology and distribution of nanoparticles. The catalytic activity of the prepared catalyst was investigated for methanol electrooxidation by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques and compared with the catalytic activity of Pt-RGO catalyst. The effects of some experimental parameters affecting on methanol oxidation such as methanol concentration, temperature and scan rate were investigated on Pt-SrCoO3-δ-RGO catalyst and the optimum conditions were suggested. Pt-SrCoO3-δ-RGO catalyst showed better catalytic activity for methanol oxidation compared with Pt-RGO catalyst indicating that Pt-SrCoO3-δ-RGO can be used as a promising catalyst for application in direct methanol fuel cells.