Electrocatalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles deposited on porous TiO(2) supports toward methanol oxidation

Abstract

Porous TiO(2) thin films were prepared on the Si substrate by hydrothermal method, and used as the Pt electrocatalyst support for methanol oxidation study. Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles with a particle size of 5-7 nm were pulse-electrodeposited on the porous TiO(2) support, which was mainly composed of the anatase phase after an annealing at 600 degrees C in vacuum. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and CO stripping measurements showed that the Pt/TiO(2) electrode had a high electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and an excellent CO tolerance. The excellent electrocatalytic performance of the electrode is ascribed to the synergistic effect of Pt nanoparticles and the porous TiO(2) support on CO oxidation. The strong electronic interaction between Pt and the TiO(2) support may modify CO chemisorption properties on Pt nanoparticles, thereby facilitating CO oxidation on Pt nanoparticles via the bifunctional mechanism and thus improving the electrocatalytic activity of the Pt catalyst toward methanol oxidation. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.