Cysteamine monolayer inducing the formation of platinum nanoclusters for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation

Platinum nanoclusters (Pt-NCs) were synthesized on the surface of a gold electrode that was modified with cysteamine to form a kind of self-assembled monolayer via in-situ cyclic voltammetry (CV). Scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and CV were used to characterize the properties of the electrode. The Cys monolayer induces the aggregation of platinum nanoparticles due to electrostatic interaction between the positive amino groups of the cystein monolayer and the negative charge of the hexachloroplatinate ions and causes the formation of Pt-NCs on the surface of the electrode. The resulting electrode exhibits high elecrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of methanol.