Ultrafine nickel nanoparticles modified reduced graphene oxide as efficient non-platinum catalysts for methanol oxidation

摘要: Synthesis of low-cost, highly-active and durable non-platinum metal catalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is always full of challenge. Here, Ni nanoparticles modified reduced graphene oxide (Ni/rGO) as an efficient non-platinum catalyst were synthesized by laser ablation of Ni target in graphene oxide (GO) solution and the following in situ reduction process. It found that GO played an important role to restrict the growth and aggregation of ultrafine nickel colloids (< 5 nm) in the process of laser ablation. The resulting Ni/rGO catalyst showed advantageous in active sites and charge transport resulting from the small particle size, uniform dispersion and electronic effect arising from the electron interactions between reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Ni. The obtained Ni/rGO exhibited the ultrahigh catalytic mass activity of 1600 mA/mg, methanol saturation concentration (4 M), which was superior to that of the reported Ni-based catalysts. Remarkably the mass activities of Ni/rGO before and after 1000 cycles exceed that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst, indicating excellent catalytic activity and stability.