In this work, a new and facile method for preparation of platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) at the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is reported. Firstly, nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) as sacrificial templates are uniformly electrodeposited onto the GCE by using potentiostatic method at a fixed potential (− 1.0 V vs. Ag│AgCl│KCl (3 M)) in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. Then, Pt-NPs are prepared through a spontaneous and irreversible process via galvanic replacement reaction (GRR) between PtCl62 − and Ni-NPs. The obtained results indicate that the Ni-NPs are completely replaced with Pt-NPs in acid solution. The obtained results from cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry reveal that the Pt-NPs demonstrate an enhanced electrocatalytic activity for methanol and formaldehyde oxidation. The effect of several parameters such as electrodepositing potential, NiSO4 concentration, electrodeposition and GRR time for methanol oxidation as well as stability of the modified electrode has been investigated.
