Pt/C nanocatalysts prepared by NaBH₄ reduction methods using ethylene glycol as a stabilizing agent

Pt/C catalysts containing 20wt% platinum per carbon were prepared by NaBH4 reduction methods in acidic ethylene glycol (EG) or H₂O conditions of pH≤2 and alkaline EG or H₂O conditions of pH≥12, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), investigating the stabilizing effect of solvent EG in the NaBH₄ reduction method. The results indicate that Pt nanoparticles uniformly distributed on the carbon support with mean diameter of 2.5 nm, were prepared by the NaBH₄ reduction method in alkaline EG solutions of pH≥12. Electrochemically active specific surface area (ECSA) and Pt-mass based current density of the catalyst for methanol electrooxidation at potential of 0.8 V vs NHE from LSV, are 74.4 m²/g Pt and 229.1 mA/mg Pt, 5.6 times larger and 5.3 times higher than those of the catalyst prepared in alkaline H₂O solutions of pH≥12, respectively.