Intermittent microwave synthesis of nanostructured Pt/TiN–graphene with high catalytic activity for methanol oxidation

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 39; no. 28; pp. 16036 - 16042
• Main Authors: Qi, Li, Yin, Ying, Shi, Weiyu, Liu, Jianguo, Xing, Danmin, Liu, Fuqiang, Hou, Zhongjun, Gu, Jun, Ming, Pingwen, Zou, Zhigang
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 23.09.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; CO tolerance; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Graphene; Hydrogen; Methanol oxidation activity; Microwave; TiN; TiN; Microwave; CO tolerance; Methanol oxidation activity; Graphene; Hydrogen; Platinum; Tin; Nanostructure; Oxidation; Catalyst activity; Methanol
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.081

A one-step and fast microwave technique was developed to synthesize graphene-supported TiN nanoparticles (TiN–G) directly from graphene and dihydroxybis (ammonium lactato) titanium (IV). During the synthesis graphene served as a reductant and template to reduce the Ti-precursor into TiN and then uniformly disperse TiN nanoparticles on it. Pt/TiN–G catalyst was also successfully prepared with the portion of Pt nanoparticles was anchored at the interface of TiN and graphene. Electrochemical measurements showed that the Pt/TiN–G catalyst exhibited improved catalytic activity for methanol oxidation and enhanced CO tolerance than those of Pt/G catalyst, attributed to the formation of –OH groups on the surface of TiN. And the –OH attached TiN assisted the conversion of CO into CO2. •TiN–G was prepared by the microwave-assisted synthesis method.•Pt/TiN–G shows improved methanol oxidation activity and enhanced CO tolerance.•The improvement effect should be ascribed to the presence of TiN.•Pt/TiN–G could decompose water to form OH groups which is similar to Pt–Ru.