Synthesis the New Nanostructure Ti_(0.7)Ir_(0.3)O_2 via Low Temperature Hydrothermal Process

摘要

Noncarbon materials were recognized as the catalyst support to increase the durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). One of the most noncarbon materials studied to be an emerging candidate for Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) support on the cathode side of PEMFC was M doped-TiO_2 due to the highly stable structure of TiO_2 and the good conductivity of M-doped TiO_2. In this paper, the novel nanostructure Ti_(0.7)Ir_(0.3)O_2 was prepared for the first time via low temperature hydrothermal process. The synthesis process for the new nanostructure Ti_(0.7)Ir_(0.3)O_2 was studied in detail in this work. The impact of hydrothermal temperature as well as the reaction time on the dominant phase formation is extensively investigated in this work. We found that the Ti_(0.7)Ir_(0.3)O_7 nanoparticles exist in both rutile and anatase phase. We found that the Ti_(0.7)Ir_(0.3)O_7 nanoparticles with an irregular spherical shape with particle size of approximately 20-30nm with high crystallinity. In addition, we also found that the optimal condition to synthesize the Ti_(0.7)Ir_(0.3)O_7 NPs is obtained at 210℃ and 10 hours. The result not only introduces a promising catalyst support Ti_(0.7)Ir_(0.3)O_7 for much needed fuel cells, but it also open a new material type of Ir doped TiO_2.