Vacant graphene Nanosheet-Supported platinum nanoparticles as catalysts for neutral glucose oxidation reaction

Significantly improving the dispersion of platinum nanoparticles (NPs) over the support is critical to boosting their performance in electrocatalysis. Herein, an effective method is reported to synthesise well-dispersed Pt NPs (∼3 nm) on defective graphene nanosheets (Pt/dGNs) through a self-regulation reduction method of sodium n-dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The dGNs (dGN600, dGN400, and dGN200) were rapidly exfoliated and prepared using a sonoelectrochemical method with sonication powers of 600, 400, and 200 W. Consequently, highly dispersed and dense Pt NPs formed on dGN600 (Pt/dGN600) with point vacancy, 5–8-5 defect, and 5–9 vacancy defect were obtained. The Pt/dGN600 exhibited a significant mass activity (5.80 × 1020 molecules· g-1Pt) for the sequential catalysis of neutral D-glucose oxidation reaction (GOR), where the electron transfer number was 1.13, suggesting that the element step to form gluconolactone. Additionally, amperometric sensor studies for transient catalysis clearly showed the potential of Pt/dGN600 for use as a non-enzymatic glucose sensor.