Poly (triazine imide) (PTI) and graphene hybrids supported PtSn catalysts for enhanced electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol

Rational design support materials are important for improving the efficiency of Pt-based catalysts. A series of PTI-graphene hybrids supported Pt Sn catalysts with different PTI nanosheets contents were synthesized by polyol method . Physical characterization revealed that PTI nanosheets can prevent restacking of graphene nanosheets and Pt Sn nanoparticles around 2.5 nm are dispersed uniformly on PTI-graphene support materials. Compared with the graphene supported Pt Sn catalyst and commercial carbon black supported Pt catalyst, the PTI-graphene hybrids supported Pt Sn catalysts exhibit excellent ultraefficient performance toward ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). The enhanced electrochemical activity can be attributed to the high specific surface area of the PTI-graphene supports and the strong interaction between Pt Sn atom and supports as a result of the incorporation of PTI nanosheets.