Characterization of indium tin oxides thin films modified with ion implantation and its application for attachment of platinum nanoparticles

Abstract

NH 2 + ions implantation was performed at energy of 80 keV with the ion dose of 5.0 × 10 15 ions cm −2 for indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, which formed a new electrode NH 2/ITO. And then the electrode was immersed into the platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) solution, in which PtNPs were successfully attached to the surface of NH 2/ITO electrode through the strong electrostatic attraction formed between PtNPs and the NH 2/ITO surface, resulting platinum nanoparticles-attached NH 2 + ions implantation-modified ITO (PtNPs/NH 2/ITO) electrode. Results of X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and the water contact angle (WCA) measurements showed that the implanted NH 2 + ions existed on the NH 2/ITO surface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicated that the attachment of PtNPs to ITO surface was improved after NH 2 + ions implantation. Cyclic voltammetric measurements were carried out to investigate the electrochemical performance of the PtNPs/NH 2/ITO electrode. It was found that the PtNPs/NH 2/ITO electrode showed high electrochemical activities and displayed good electrocatalytic oxidation response to methanol. Therefore, the modified electrode could be applicable to be the sensor for detecting methanol.