DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i3.105

Keywords: Biosynthesis; green chemistry; methanol oxidation reaction; fuel cell; electrochemistry

Abstract

The study explores the potential of plant extracts as a biosynthesis route for creating a robust electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation, utilizing their diverse bioactive reducing metabolites. In this work, the effect of pH during the synthesis of Platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) using Saccharum officinarum L. bagasse extract was investigated at pH 2, 7, 9, and 11 and compared to the original solution, which was subsequently analyzed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Note that pH has a considerable influence on chemical reduction synthesis, with a higher alkaline pH resulting in a faster reaction rate than in an acidic environment. Furthermore, the effect of pH on bio-Pt NPs production has an impact on electrochemical activities in the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The findings demonstrated that, while not surpassing the performance of its original media, bio-Pt NPs synthesized at pH 11 had the highest electrochemical activity for MOR, followed by pH 2, 9, and 7. This was caused by the presence of more readily accessible hydroxide ions (-OH) in more alkaline media, which absorb on Pt's surface and aid in the dehydrogenation of methanol oxidation.