High dispersion and electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNFs)

Bio-inspired PtNPs/Graphene nanocomposite based electrocatalytic sensing of metabolites of dipyrone

Noble metal nanoparticles are known to electrocatalyze various redox reactions by improving the electron transfer kinetics. In the present study, we have introduced a facile bioinspired synthesis of PtNPs and their integration for the formation of PtNPs/graphene nanocomposite using Psidium guajava (guava) leaves extract. Graphene used in nanocomposite formulation was synthesized by exfoliation of graphite in water/acetone (25:75 v/v) mixture followed by mechanical shearing using ultrasonication and microwave irradiation. PtNPs/graphene nanocomposite was drop-cast onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE, 3 mm dia). The electrocatalytic activity of PtNPs/graphene nanocomposite was tested in a three-electrode system for sensing of metabolic products of dipyrone (DIP) formed through 1 e^- and 2 e^- transfer reactions. The modified electrode exhibited almost 50% reduction in electrode resistance. The limit of detection was found to be 0.142 μM with sensitivities of 0.820 and 0.445 μA․μM^-1cm^-2 for DIP concentration below and above 100 μM, respectively, using square wave voltammetry. The signal of sensing of metabolites of DIP was almost invariant in the presence of glucose, dopamine, uric acid, and ciprofloxacin; however, the response current was decayed by 20% within the 10th cycle. The sensing of DIP spiked in treated sewage-water and running tap-water samples was ∼100% recoverable and comparable with HPLC.

Co3O4–CNT nanocomposites: a powerful, reusable, and stable catalyst for sonochemical synthesis of polyhydroquinolines

Application of the ultrasound process in the facile synthesis of polyhydroquinolines catalyzed by Co₃O₄–CNT nanocomposites is a standard technology.

Dynamic wet-ETEM observation of Pt/C electrode catalysts in a moisturized cathode atmosphere

The gas injection line of the latest spherical aberration-corrected environmental transmission electron microscope has been modified for achieving real-time/atomic-scale observations in moisturised gas atmospheres for the first time. The newly developed Wet-TEM system is applied to platinum carbon electrode catalysts to investigate the effect of water molecules on the platinum/carbon interface during deactivation processes such as sintering and corrosion. Dynamic in situ movies obtained in dry and 24% moisturised nitrogen environments visualize the rapid rotation, migration and agglomeration of platinum nanoparticles due to the physical adsorption of water and the hydroxylation of the carbon surface. The origin of the long-interconnected aggregation of platinum nanoparticles was discovered to be a major deactivation process in addition to conventional carbon corrosion.

Titanium dioxide supported on MWCNTs as an eco-friendly catalyst in the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones accelerated under microwave irradiation

Some transition metal oxides supported on MWCNTs were prepared as novel heterogeneous catalysts using the facile processes. These catalysts were used for the synthesis of Biginelli compounds under microwave irradiation.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell – Alternative Materials and Catalyst Preparation

The direct methanol fuel cell is the most interesting fuel cell for mobile applications. The state-of-the-art materials in a practical direct methanol fuel cell are Nafion 115 as membrane, carbon black as catalyst support and PtRu and Pt, respectively, as electrocatalyst. However, many materials were under investigation as alternatives to these materials in the last two decades. The most promising materials are reviewed in this paper. In addition, the catalyst preparation methods are summarized for chemical and electrochemical methods separately. Furthermore, a new electrodeposition technique with a gel-type electrolyte is highlighted. By the use of this method, the catalyst loading on the cathode side can be reduced by 25%.

Dynamic environmental transmission electron microscopy observation of platinum electrode catalyst deactivation in a proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell

Spherical-aberration-corrected environmental transmission electron microscopy (AC-ETEM) was applied to study the catalytic activity of platinum/amorphous carbon electrode catalysts in proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). These electrode catalysts were characterized in different atmospheres, such as hydrogen and air, and a conventional high vacuum of 10(-5) Pa. A high-speed charge coupled device camera was used to capture real-time movies to dynamically study the diffusion and reconstruction of nanoparticles with an information transfer down to 0.1 nm, a time resolution below 0.2 s and an acceleration voltage of 300 kV. With such high spatial and time resolution, AC-ETEM permits the visualization of surface-atom behaviour that dominates the coalescence and surface-reconstruction processes of the nanoparticles. To contribute to the development of robust PEMFC platinum/amorphous carbon electrode catalysts, the change in the specific surface area of platinum particles was evaluated in hydrogen and air atmospheres. The deactivation of such catalysts during cycle operation is a serious problem that must be resolved for the practical use of PEMFCs in real vehicles. In this paper, the mechanism for the deactivation of platinum/amorphous carbon electrode catalysts is discussed using the decay rate of the specific surface area of platinum particles, measured first in a vacuum and then in hydrogen and air atmospheres for comparison.

Novel strategy for preparation of graphene-Pd, Pt composite, and its enhanced electrocatalytic activity for alcohol oxidation

As advanced electrodes for direct alcohol fuel cells, graphene-Pd and graphene-Pt composites with a trace of SnO(2) have been successfully synthesized by a modified electroless plating technique. The surface of graphene oxide is first sensitized by Sn(2+) ions, and subsequently, Pd or Pt nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of graphene oxide. Finally, graphene oxide was reduced to graphene by further adding NaBH(4). Compared to other carbon-(e.g., Vulcan XC-72R) supported Pd and Pt, the resultant graphene-Pd and Pt composites exhibit better electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability toward alcohol electrooxidation. Additionally, a trace amount of SnO(2) formed around active catalysts may also be beneficial to the enhancement of electrochemical activity.

Graphene-based materials for energy conversion

With the depletion of conventional energy sources, the demand for renewable energy and energy-efficient devices continues to grow. As a novel 2D nanomaterial, graphene attracts considerable research interest due to its unique properties and is a promising material for applications in energy conversion and storage devices. Recently, the fabrication of fuel cells and solar cells using graphene for various functional parts has been studied extensively. This research news summarizes and compares the advancements that have been made and are in progress in the utilization of graphene-based materials for energy conversion.

Chemical approaches toward graphene-based nanomaterials and their applications in energy-related areas

A 'gold rush' has been triggered all over the world for exploiting the possible applications of graphene-based nanomaterials. For this purpose, two important problems have to be solved; one is the preparation of graphene-based nanomaterials with well-defined structures, and the other is the controllable fabrication of these materials into functional devices. This review gives a brief overview of the recent research concerning chemical and thermal approaches toward the production of well-defined graphene-based nanomaterials and their applications in energy-related areas, including solar cells, lithium ion secondary batteries, supercapacitors, and catalysis.

Nanostructure and surface composition of Pt and Ru binary catalysts on polyaniline-functionalized carbon nanotubes

Pt-Ru binary catalysts were prepared on a polyaniline-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (PANi/MWCNT). PANi/MWCNT composites were synthesized by the polymerization of aniline in the presence of a carbon nanotube suspension using FeSO(4) and (NH(4))(2)S(2)O(8) as the oxidants. The Pt-Ru/PANi/MWCNT catalysts were formed by the chemical reduction of H(2)PtCl(6) and RuCl(3) using NaBH(4) as the reducing agent. The binary component catalyst is sharply distributed, with particle sizes ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 nm, and the Pt and Ru distributions are homogeneous when supported on PANi/MWCNT. In comparison, the binary catalyst supported on bare MWCNT displayed a Pt-rich core and a Ru-rich shell nanostructure. The surface composition deduced from CO stripping potentials confirms that the Ru surface content (χ(Ru)) is approximately 50% for the Pt-Ru alloy on PANi/MWCNT, and the catalyst on bare MWCNT shows nearly 70% Ru on the surface. Pt-Ru binary catalysts supported on PANi/MWCNT have higher activity, a higher Pt utilization efficiency, and much better durability when compared to other catalyst supports on bare MWCNT or on Vulcan XC-72.

Catalytic Activity of Ultrathin Pt Films on Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays

Uniform ultrathin Pt films were electrodeposited onto an aligned array of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for high-area chemically stable methanol fuel cell anodes. Electrochemical treatment of the graphitic CNT surfaces by diazoniumbenzoic acid allowed for uniform Pt electroplating. The mass activity of the Pt thin film can reach 400 A/g at a scan rate of 20 mV/s and in a solution of 1 M CH₃OH/0.5 M H₂SO₄. A programmed pulse potential at 0V was also seen to nearly eliminate the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. The mass activity of Pt for methanol oxidation can be maintained at 300 A/g for more than 3000 s, which is 19 times of that under a constant potential of 0.7 V (vs Ag/AgCl).

Real-time monitoring of oxidative burst from single plant protoplasts using microelectrochemical sensors modified by platinum nanoparticles

Oxidative bursts from plants play significant roles in plant disease defense and signal transduction; however, it has not hitherto been investigated on individual living plant cells. In this article, we fabricated a novel sensitive electrochemical sensor based on electrochemical deposition of Pt nanoparticles on the surface of carbon fiber microdisk electrodes via a nanopores containing polymer matrix, Nafion. The numerous hydrophilic nanochannels in the Nafion clusters coated on the electrode surface served as the molecular template for the deposition and dispersion of Pt, which resulted in the uniform construction of small Pt nanoparticles. The novel sensor displayed a high sensitivity for detection of H(2)O(2) with a detection limit of 5.0 x 10(-9) M. With the use of this microelectrochemical sensor, the oxidative burst from individual living plant protoplasts have been real-time monitored for the first time. The results showed that oxidative burst from single protoplasts triggered by a pathogen analogue were characterized by quanta release with a large number of "transient oxidative microburst" events, and protoplasts from the transgenic plants biologically displayed better disease-resistance and showed a distinguished elevation and longer-lasting oxidative burst.

The stability of platinum-carbon aerogel catalysts upon repeated potential cycles

A sense of stability: The stability of carbon-supported platinum catalysts at high potentials is important for the commercialization of fuel cells for homes and cars. The electrochemical active surface (EAS) area of a Pt-C aerogel catalyst was found to increase up to 500 cycles, in contrast to that for the so-called Tanaka catalyst which decreases with the number of repeated potential cycles.

Growth of carbon nanofibers on carbon fabric with Ni nanocatalyst prepared using pulse electrodeposition

The pulse electrodeposition (PED) technique was utilized to deposit nanosized (≤10 nm) Ni catalysts on carbon fabric (CF). Via an in situ potential profile, the PED technique can control the Ni catalyst loading, which is an important parameter for the growth of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on CF. The preparation of CNF-coated CF (carpet-like CF) was carried out in a thermal chemical vapor deposition system with an optimum loading of Ni catalysts deposited in the PED pulse range from 20 to 320 cycles. CNFs grown at 813 K using different pulse cycles had a narrow diameter distribution, around 15 ± 5 nm to 29 ± 7 nm; they have a hydrophobic surface, like lotus leaves. Transmission electron microscopy images confirmed the graphene structural transformation of CNFs with the growth temperature. Solid wire CNFs were initially grown at 813 K with graphene edges exposed on the external surface. At elevated growth temperatures (1073 and 1173 K), bamboo-like CNFs were obtained, with herringbone structures and intersectional hollow cores.