Preparation and Electrocatalytic Activities of Pt-TiO2 Nanotubes Electrode

摘要

The Pt-TiO2 nanotubes electrode consisting of Pt nanoparticles dispersed over a nanotubular TiO2 was prepared using the method of electrochemical anodic oxidation followed by cathodic reduction. SEM results show that the nanotubular TiO2 layer consists of average individual tubes of 100 nm diameter, 470 nm length and 20 nm wall thickness. This nanotubular TiO2 support provides a high surface area and the Pt-TiO2 nanotubes electrode owns plenty of active points and well electrocatalytic property based on the exposed platinum particles with very small diameters. It obviously enhances the electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation compared to those of pure Pt and Pt-TiO2 electrode (immobilized on a compact TiO2 support with the same Pt loading), and the oxidation current densities on Pt-TiO2 nanotubes electrode are over 20 times than that on pure platinum electrode.