Paper-based porous graphene/single-walled carbon nanotubes supported Pt nanoparticles as freestanding catalyst for electro-oxidation of methanol

In this paper, we designed a facile strategy to prepare a freestanding 3D interconnected embossed graphene (e-RGO)-single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) paper supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/e-RGO-SWCNT) without binder, which can be used as a flexible and robust electrode for methanol oxidation. The 3D porous e-RGO was prepared by using monodispersed polystyrene (PS) spheres as sacrificial templates to suppress the re-stacking of RGO sheets. Meanwhile, the SWCNTs penetrated through the e-RGO, and thus weaved them into a scalable film to provide an integrative conductive framework. Benefited from their high surface area, 3D porous interconnected architecture, and good electrical conductivity, the Pt/e-RGO-SWCNT catalyst exhibited much higher electrocatalytic activity and durability for methanol oxidation than Pt/e-RGO and Pt/RGO catalysts. More importantly, the Pt/e-RGO-SWCNT is demonstrated to be outstanding flexible electrocatalysts, and the electrocatalytic performances under the different distorted situation (such as folded and rolled states) are almost the same as the normal state.