Silver, gold, and silver@gold nanoparticle-anchored l-cysteine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide as electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

Abstract

Fuel cells have been attracting more and more attention in recent decades due to high-energy demands, fossil fuel depletions, and environmental pollution throughout world. In this study, we report the synthesis of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticle (AgNP, AuNP, and Ag@AuNP)-involved l-cysteine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (AgNPs/cis/rGO, AuNPs/cis/rGO, and Ag@Au/cis/rGO) and their applications as an electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation. The nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Experimental results demonstrated that the prepared nanocomposites enhanced electrochemical efficiency for methanol electro-oxidation with regard to diffusion efficiency, oxidation potential, and forward oxidation peak current.