Epitaxial and atomically thin graphene–metal hybrid catalyst films: the dual role of graphene as the support and the chemically-transparent protective cap

Abdelhafiz, A; Vitale, A; Buntin, P; Deglee, B; Joiner, C; Robertson, A; Vogel, E; Warner, J; Alamgir, F

Journal article

Epitaxial and atomically thin graphene–metal hybrid catalyst films: the dual role of graphene as the support and the chemically-transparent protective cap

Abstract:: In this study, we demonstrate dual roles for graphene, as both a platform for large-area, fully-wetted growth of two-dimensional Pt films that are one monolayer to several multilayers thick, while also serving as a 'chemically transparent' barrier to catalytic deactivation wherein graphene does not restrict the access of the reactants but does block Pt from dissolution or agglomeration. Using these architectures, we show that it is possible to simultaneously achieve enhanced catalytic activity and unprecedented stability, retaining full activity beyond 1000 cycles, for the canonical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Using high resolution TEM, AFM, X-ray photoemission/absorption spectroscopy (XPS/XAS), Raman, and electrochemical methods, we show that, due to intimate graphene-Pt epitaxial contact, Pt-ML/GR hybrid architectures are able to induce a compressive strain on the supported Pt adlayer and increase catalytic activity for ORR. With no appreciable Pt loss or agglomeration observed with the GR/Pt-ML catalysts after 1000 ORR cycles, our results open the door to using similar graphene-templated/graphene-capped hybrid catalysts as means to improve catalyst lifetime without a necessary compromise to their activity. More broadly, the epitaxial growth made possible by the room-temperature, wetted synthesis approach, should allow for efficient transfer of charge, strain, phonons and photons, impacting not just catalysis, but also electronic, thermoelectric and optical materials.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

Actions

Email

Email this record

Send the bibliographic details of this record to your email address.

Your Email
Please enter the email address that the record information will be sent to.

-
Your message (optional)
Please add any additional information to be included within the email.
Cite

Cite this record

APA Style

Abdelhafiz, A., Vitale, A., Buntin, P., Deglee, B., Joiner, C., Robertson, A., Vogel, E., Warner, J., & Alamgir, F. (2018). Epitaxial and atomically thin graphene–metal hybrid catalyst films: the dual role of graphene as the support and the chemically-transparent protective cap. Energy and Environmental Science, 11(6), 1610–1616.

MLA Style

Abdelhafiz, A., et al. “Epitaxial and Atomically Thin Graphene–Metal Hybrid Catalyst Films: the Dual Role of Graphene as the Support and the Chemically-Transparent Protective Cap.” Energy and Environmental Science, vol. 11, no. 6, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2018, pp. 1610–16.

Chicago Style

Abdelhafiz, A, A Vitale, P Buntin, B Deglee, C Joiner, A Robertson, E Vogel, J Warner, and F Alamgir. 2018. “Epitaxial and Atomically Thin Graphene–Metal Hybrid Catalyst Films: the Dual Role of Graphene as the Support and the Chemically-Transparent Protective Cap.” Energy and Environmental Science 11 (6): 1610–16.
Share
Print