Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of reduced graphene oxide–supported hollow spherical PtCu alloy and its enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation

In this work, a facile one-pot solvothermal method is developed for fabricating hollow spherical PtCu alloy nanoparticles (with the size of 124 ± 16 nm) supported on reduced graphene oxide (PtCu/rGO), with the assistance of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C 10 MIm]Br) as the structure-directing agent and capping agent. The influence of various experimental parameters on the morphology and structure of prepared PtCu/rGO hybrids is researched. Compared with the commercial Pt/C (10 wt%) and Pt/rGO, the as-prepared PtCu/rGO hybrid exhibits a larger electrochemical active surface area, higher electrocatalytic activity, and better tolerance for methanol oxidation in acidic media. We believe that the hollow spherical PtCu alloy supported on rGO will have great potential applications for direct methanol fuel cells. Hollow spherical PtCu alloy supported on rGO hybrid is successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot solvothermal method with the assistance of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide. 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide acts as both shape-controlled agent and capping agent for synthesizing PtCu/rGO. The as-prepared PtCu/rGO exhibits high electrocatalytic activity and good poisoning-resistant ability for methanol oxidation in acidic media.