Design of Highly Uniform Platinum and Palladium Nanoparticle Decoration on TiO2 Nanotube Arrays: An Efficient Anode to the Electro-Oxidation of Alcohols

Authors

Electrochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Physical Chemistry, Chemistry Faculty, University of Tabriz

Abstract

We explore electro-catalytic properties of a system consisting of platinum and palladium nanoparticles
dispersed over a nanotubular self-organized TiO2 matrix. These electrodes prepared by electroess and microemulsion
of palladium and palladium nanoparticles on to TiO2 nanotubes, respectively. Titanium oxide
nanotubes were fabricated by anodizing titanium foil in ethylene glycol (EG) fluoride-containing electrolyte.
The morphology and surface characteristics of Pd-TiO2/Ti and Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes were investigated using
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. The
results indicated that platinum and palladium nanoparticles were homogeneously deposited on the surface of
TiO2 nanotubes. The nanotubular TiO2 layers consist of individual tubes of 70-90 nm diameters. This
nanotubular TiO2 support provides a high surface area and it significantly enhances the electro-catalytic
activity of Pd-TiO2/Ti and Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes for alcohols oxidation. The electro-catalytic activity of Pd-
TiO2/Ti and Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes in the alcohols electro-oxidation was studied by electrochemical methods.
The results indicate that Pd-TiO2/Ti and Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes improve the electro-catalytic activity for
alcohols oxidation greatly and confirmed the better electro-catalytic activity and stability of these new
electrodes. So, the Pd-TiO2/Ti and Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes have a good application potential to fuel cells.

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 October 2015
  • Accept Date: 27 October 2015

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