A Nanostructure Magnetic Based Graphene Oxide Electrocatalyst for Methanol Oxidation

Fuel cells have been attracting more and more attention in recent decades due to high-energy demands, fossil fuel depletions and environmental pollution throughout world. In this study, we report the synthesis of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles such as spherical iron nanoparticles (sFeNPs), rod iron nanoparticles (rFeNPs) and iron@gold nanoparticles (Fe@AuNPs) involved L-cysteine functionalized reduced graphene oxide nanohybrids (sFeNPs-cis-rGO, rFeNPs-cis-rGO and Fe@Au-cis-rGO) and their applications as an electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation. The nanohybrids have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Experimental results have demonstrated that reduced graphene oxide-supported bimetallic nanoparticles enhanced electrochemical efficiency for methanol electro-oxidation with regard to diffusion efficiency, oxidation potential and forward oxidation peak current. Fe@Au-cis-rGO, in comparison to sFeNPs-cis-rGO and rFeNPs-cis-rGO, has showed the most efficiency for methanol electro-oxidation.