The deposition of Au–Pt core–shell nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide and their catalytic activity

Au–Pt core–shell nanoparticles have been synthesized on a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) surface by an under-potential deposition (UPD) redox replacement technique, which involves redox replacement of a copper UPD monolayer by ##IMG## [http://ej.iop.org/images/0957-4484/24/29/295402/nano465621ieqn19.gif] {${\mathrm{PtCl}}_{4}^{2-}$} that could be reduced and deposited simultaneously. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods have been used to characterize the graphene decorated with Au–Pt core–shell nanoparticles. The electrochemical experiments show that the materials exhibit excellent catalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction and the methanol oxidation reaction. It is believed that the high-performance of this new catalyst is due to the ultrathin Pt shell on the Au nanoparticles surface and the oxygen-containing functional groups on the RGO surface.

Xiu Cui, Shengnan Wu, Scott Jungwirth, Zhibing Chen, Zhenghua Wang, Lun Wang and Yongxin Li

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