A new method for synthesizing high performance few-layer graphene supported Pt electrocatalysts in methanol and ethanol oxidation

Here, new catalysts for application in the Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells (DMFC and DEFC), comprising of 1–8 wt% Pt dispersed on few layer graphene (FLG), are successfully synthesized, by means of a rapid, simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly one-pot method. The mass activity of the PFG3 catalyst for methanol, in acid and alkaline media, was 25,243 mA mgPt−1 and 112,882 mA mgPt−1, respectively; for ethanol, in acid and alkaline media, was 25,000 mA mgPt−1 and 65,272 mA mgPt−1, respectively. These values were from tens to hundreds of times higher than those recently published for graphene-support Pt electrocatalysts. Our results suggest that the one-pot synthesis method result in simultaneous exfoliation, reduction and deposition during microwave irradiation in a very short time for producing catalysts with extremely high electrochemical performance, which may be effective alternative method for synthesis of electrocatalysts for DMFC and DEFC.