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Abstract
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The Pt–CeO2/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite on the carbon-ceramic electrode (Pt–CeO2/RGO/
CCE) was prepared by a two-step electrodeposition process. RGO was deposited on the CCE through a
simple electrochemical method using graphene oxide and CCE as the precursor and electrode substrate,
respectively. Then, RGO/CCE was used as a support for the Pt–CeO2 nanoparticle deposition by another
electrochemical process to form the nanocomposite based electrocatalyst; Pt–CeO2/RGO/CCE. The
obtained electrocatalyst was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetric techniques. The electrocatalytic activity of the
Pt–CeO2/RGO/CCE toward the oxidation of formic acid and formaldehyde was investigated by cyclic
voltammetry and chronoamperometry in 0.1 M H2SO4 solution. It was found that the Pt–CeO2/RGO/
CCE is electrocatalytically more active than the Pt–CeO2/CCE, Pt/RGO/CCE and Pt/CCE
electrocatalysts. The increased electrocatalytic efficiency of Pt in Pt–CeO2/RGO/CCE is likely to result
from its combination with CeO2 to form Pt–CeO2 nanoparticles and their deposition on/in the RGO
layers at the CCE surface. From the obtained results, it could be concluded that the Pt–CeO2/
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