This paper presents the preparation of platinum on a reduced graphene oxide matrix (PtrGO) using the microwave-assisted method with three different pH solutions. The platinum concentration determined by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) was 4.32 (weight%), 2.16 (weight %) and 5.70 (weight%), corresponding to pH 3.3, 11.7 and 7.2, respectively. Pt functionalization of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) decreased the rGO specific surface, as shown by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis. An XRD spectrum of platinum-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) showed the presence of the associated phases of rGO and centered cubic platinum peaks. An oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrochemical characterization performed using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method showed that in PtGO1 synthetized in an acidic environment, with 4.32 Pt (weight%) determined by EDX, platinum is much more dispersed, which explains its better electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction performance. Koutecky–Levich (K-L) plots calculated at different potentials prove a good linear relationship. Electron transfer numbers (n) determined from the K-L plots are between 3.1 and 3.8, which confirms that the ORR for all the samples can be regarded as first-order reaction kinetics of O₂ concentration formed on the Pt surface during ORR.

The CANDU reactor from the Nuclear Power plant Cernavoda, Romania is the most powerful tritium source from Europe. This reactor is moderated and cooled by heavy water that becomes continuously contaminated with tritium. Because of this reason, the National R&D Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies developed a detritiation technology based on catalytic isotopic exchange and cryogenic distillation.The main effort of our Institute was focused on finding more efficient catalysts with a longer operational life. Some of the tritium removal processes involved in Fusion Science & Technology use this type of catalyst. Several Pt/C/PTFE hydrophobic catalysts that could be used in isotopic exchange process were produced. The present paper presents a comparative study between the physical and morphological properties of different catalysts manufactured by impregnation at our institute. The comparison consists of a survey of specific surface, pores volume and pores distribution.