Controlled Pt monolayer fabrication on complex carbon fiber structures for superior catalytic applications

Using a dual buffer structure, a controlled layer-by-layer deposition process has been developed to fabricate a monolayer Pt coating on carbon fiber with complex network structures. The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, current density analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results conclude that the monolayer deposition process accomplishes full coverage on the substrate and that the thickness of the deposition layer can be controlled on a single atom scale. It is found that a dual buffer, comprising a thin Ni coating and an Au nano-film, is necessary to cover carbon fiber substrate to ensure a complete monolayer Pt coverage. Moreover, the Pt monolayer is found to work better than thicker Pt – the best norm in the field, for catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction.