A bimetallic Ni-Ti nanoparticle modified indium tin oxide electrode fabricated by the ion implantation method for studying the direct electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

This study has investigated the oxidation of methanol (CH 3 OH) on a novel bimetallic Ni-Ti nanoparticle-modified indium tin oxide electrode (Ni-Ti NP/ITO) fabricated by the ion implantation method. This has been shown to be a facile, effective and eco-friendly method that could potentially be used to manufacture modified electrodes. The modified electrode exhibits a high electrochemical activity. The techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques were used to characterize an ITO electrode modified by Ti nanoparticles (Ti NP/ITO), an ITO electrode modified by Ni nanoparticles (Ni NP/ITO) and the morphology and performance of Ni-Ti NP/ITO. The size of the bimetallic Ni-Ti nanoparticles (Ni-Ti NPs) is in the range of 20-30 nm based on SEM analysis. The Ni nanoparticles (Ni NPs) and Ti nanoparticles (Ti NPs) formed on the electrode are in the Ni 0 and Ti( iv ) metallic states as determined by XPS. The general electrochemical behaviours of the modified electrode were characterized by CV. The Ni-Ti NP/ITO electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol with long-term stability and has possible applications in fuel cells. This study has investigated the oxidation of methanol (CH 3 OH) on a novel bimetallic Ni-Ti nanoparticle-modified indium tin oxide electrode (Ni-Ti NP/ITO) fabricated by the ion implantation method.