Electrodeposited Pt on three-dimensional interconnected graphene as a free-standing electrode for fuel cell application

A three-dimensional interconnected graphene monolith was usedas an electrode support for pulsed electrochemical deposition ofplatinum (Pt) nanoparticles. Pt nanoparticles with well-definedmorphology and small size can be obtained by controlling electrodepositionpotential and time. Electrochemical characterizationwas carried out to examine the electrocatalytic activity of thismonolithic electrode towards methanol oxidation in acidic media.The results show that the carbon material surface and structurehave a strong influence on the Pt particle size and morphology.Compared with the three-dimensional scaffold of carbon fibers,the three-dimensional graphene when used as a free-standingelectrode support resulted in much improved catalytic activity formethanol oxidation in fuel cells due to its three-dimensionallyinterconnected seamless porous structure, high surface area andhigh conductivity.