High electrocatalytic performance of graphene nanoribbon supported PtAu nanoalloy for direct ethanol fuel cell and theoretical analysis of anti-CO poisoning

Insights into reaction mechanisms of ethanol electrooxidation at the Pt/Au(111) interfaces using density functional theory

Understanding ethanol electrooxidation reaction kinetics is fundamental to the development of direct ethanol fuel cells.

Codeposition of Platinum and Gold on Nickel Wire Electrodes via Galvanic Replacement Reactions for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Alcohols

Codeposition of Pt and Au on Ni wire was performed using a simple treatment of immersing Ni wire in aqueous solutions containing both K2PtCl4 and HAuCl4. For evaluating the electrochemical properties of the thus-prepared electrodes, cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of 1.0 M ethanol in 1.0 M NaOH aqueous solutions were recorded. Compared with Pt- or Au-deposited Ni wire electrodes prepared by treating Ni wire in aqueous solutions of a single component, e.g., 1.0 mM K2PtCl4 or 1.0 mM HAuCl4, a noteworthy increase in the electrocatalytic current was observed for the oxidation of ethanol with a PtAu-codeposited Ni (PtAu/Ni) wire electrode even when it was prepared in an aqueous solution containing both 0.10 mM K2PtCl4 and 0.10 mM HAuCl4. In addition, the shape and the peak potentials of CVs recorded using PtAu/Ni wire electrodes were found to be different from those recorded with the Pt- or Au-deposited Ni wire electrodes. Because the CV responses typical of the PtAu/Ni wire electrodes were observed even when a PtAu/Ni wire electrode was prepared in an aqueous solution containing both 0.010 mM K2PtCl4 and 1.0 mM HAuCl4, it is considered that a small amount of Pt was effectively modified or incorporated and affected the electrochemical properties significantly. The CV results for ethanol oxidation were compared with those for the electrocatalytic oxidations of methanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol. Besides, the CV results recorded with the present PtAu/Ni wire electrodes are discussed in comparison with some previous results obtained using other PtAu nanoelectrocatalysts.

High efficiency and stable photoluminescence of CH3NH3PbBr3@CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots

CH₃NH₃PbBr₃@CsPbBr₃ quantum dots were prepared by epitaxially growing a CsPbBr₃ shell on the surface of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ due to their similar crystal structures. The inorganic CsPbBr₃ shell provides enhanced stability for the CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ core. Compared with that of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃, the photoluminescence of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃@CsPbBr₃ quantum dots is not only strong, but also stable for months, in addition to having a high quantum yield.

One-step oxidation preparation of unfolded and good soluble graphene nanoribbons by longitudinal unzipping of carbon nanotubes

A simple one-step method to prepare graphene nanoribbon (GNR) is reported in this paper. Compared with water steam etching, the oxidation and co-etching of dilute sulfuric acid can result in the more complete longitudinal unzipping of carbon nanotube, although there is no other strong oxidant. As-prepared GNRs are more flat and have more oxygenated functional groups along the edge. Moreover, they can steadily disperse in a water system. These make them suitable as a carrier for supporting palladium (Pd) nanoparticles. The Pd/GNR composite exhibits a superior electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation.