Production of sustainable low-layer graphene by green synthesis at room conditions for platinum-based direct methanol fuel cell

Abstract

In this study, a cost-effective and scalable method for the production of low-layer graphene (LLG) using sodium percarbonate (SPC) as a green delamination agent and its application in fuel cells is proposed. The obtained graphene showed a decrease in signal height in XRD analysis, indicating thinner layers. Raman analysis confirmed the presence of 7-8 layers of graphene. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a uniform crystal structure, making it suitable for various applications. Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are widely recognized as efficient and environmentally friendly devices for converting chemical energy to electrical energy. The utilization of graphene-supported platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) as catalysts in DMFCs enhances their performance. In this study, Pt-graphene catalysts were synthesized by the chemical reduction method with graphene obtained by using SPC. Characterization through XRD and SEM analyses confirmed the homogeneous distribution of NPs on the carbon support. As a result of methanol oxidation studies, 57.73 and 21.45 mA/cm(2) values were obtained by using Pt@LLG and Pt catalysts, respectively. As a result of long-term stability and durability tests, it has been found that the Pt@LLG catalyst can be used effectively in metal oxidation experiments.