Microwave-assisted synthesis of platinum–tungsten/graphene catalysts

Loreta Tamašauskaitė-Tamašiūnaitė; Aldona Balčiūnaitė; Jūratė Vaičiūnienė; Martynas Skapas; Eugenijus Norkus

doi:10.6001/chemija.2016.27.3.2

Loreta Tamašauskaitė-Tamašiūnaitė
Aldona Balčiūnaitė
Jūratė Vaičiūnienė
Martynas Skapas
Eugenijus Norkus

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6001/chemija.2016.27.3.2

Keywords: platinum, tungsten, graphene, sodium borohydride, oxidation

Abstract

In this study a rapid microwave heating method was used to prepare the graphene supported platinum–tungsten catalysts with different Pt:W molar ratios (denoted as PtW/GR). Transmission Electron Microscopy and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy were used for the characterization of prepared catalysts. The electrocatalytic activity of the PtW/GR catalysts with respect to the oxidation of borohydride in an alkaline medium was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry and chrono-techniques.
It has been determined that the graphene supported platinum–tungsten catalysts with the Pt:W molar ratios equal to 1.6:1, 2.3:1 and 7.1:1 were prepared. The prepared PtW/GR catalysts with different Pt:W molar ratios show an enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of H2 generated by catalytic hydrolysis of BH4– and direct oxidation of BH4– compared with the bare Pt/GR and W/GR catalysts.