A versatile approach to processing of high active area pillar coral- and sponge-like Pt-nanostructures. Application to electrocatalysis

A facile electrochemical processing method for Pt-based nanostructures with high surface area and a broad range of possible applications is proposed, based on sacrificial ZnO nanostructures. At first, ZnO-nanorods and nanobelts were grown on a TiO2 terminated steel substrate via a fast wet chemical...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Journal of materials chemistry 2011-01, Vol.21 (12), p.4182-4188
Hauptverfasser: Minch, Robert, Es-Souni, Mohammed
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:A facile electrochemical processing method for Pt-based nanostructures with high surface area and a broad range of possible applications is proposed, based on sacrificial ZnO nanostructures. At first, ZnO-nanorods and nanobelts were grown on a TiO2 terminated steel substrate via a fast wet chemical method and subsequently sputter coated with an ultra-thin gold film to ensure electrical contact. These nanostructured substrates were used as electrodes for Pt electrodeposition. It is shown that ZnO was dissolved while Pt-nanoparticles nucleated and grew, replicating the ZnO nanostructure morphology. In this way we could process closed Pt-nanorods with morphologies reminiscent to pillar coral, and Pt-nanobelts with a sponge-like topology. In comparison to commercial catalysts like Pt/C30, the nanostructures obtained are characterized by higher real surfaces, higher efficiency for methanol electrooxidation and higher resistance to poisoning by carbonaceous species, and so should be promising as electrodes in direct methanol oxidation fuel cells.
ISSN:0959-9428
1364-5501
DOI:10.1039/c0jm04011h