Simultaneous synthesis of gold nanoparticle/graphene nanocomposite for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction.

We report here on a novel and facile technique for the simultaneous synthesis of a highly active and stable gold (Au) nanoparticle/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheet nanocomposite as an efficient electrocatalyst to facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and electrochemical methods were employed to characterize the Au and rGO nanocomposites formed on the electrode surface. The major advantage of the simultaneous synthetic method is the integration of the superb properties of both Au nanoparticles and graphene in a single-step with a 100% usage of the precursors. The Au/rGO nanocomposites exhibited pronounced electrocatalytic performance towards ORR with approximately three times higher than that of Au nanoparticles. The nanocomposites show the ORR onset peak potentials at 0.12 and −0.03 V ( vs Ag/AgCl), with reduction peaks at −0.06 and −0.16 V ( vs Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 M H 2 SO 4 and KOH media, which is ∼120–190 mV more positive than that of Au nanoparticles and a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, the nanocomposites exhibit excellent methanol tolerance and high durability in comparison with the commercial Pt/C. The new method demonstrated in this study provides an efficient route for the generation of ultrafine and highly dense Au nanoparticles that are homogeneously dispersed on rGO sheets for ORR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]