Modification of TiO2 Nanotubes with PtRu/Graphene Nanocomposites for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the key fundamental reactions that occur at electrocatalytic cathode surfaces for fuel cell applications. Herein, we report the development of a series of nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and PtRu nanoparticles with different atomic ratios of Pt/Ru deposited on titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2NTs) (termed as TiO2NT/rGO–PtRu) for the ORR. The TiO2NT/rGO–PtRu nanocomposites were prepared by using a facile one‐step electrochemical deposition, and characterized through field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Our experimental results have shown that the synthesized TiO2NT/rGO–PtRu nanocomposite with a Pt/Ru ratio of 64:36 exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity toward the ORR with an onset potential of 0.58 V (vs. RHE) and a high stability, which is promising for environmental and green energy applications.