Electrooxidation of ethanol on platinum nanoparticles supported by ZrO2 nanotube matrix as a new highly active electrode

Abstract

Platinum nanoparticles/ZrO2 nanotubes/Zr electrode (Pt-NPs/ZrO2-NTs/Zr) was fabricated by electroplating of platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) on the ZrO2 nanotube arrays. ZrO2-NTs were prepared by anodizing in an electrolyte containing dimethylformamide (DMF), glycerol and ammonium fluoride (NH4F). The morphology and structure of ZrO2-NTs and Pt-NPs/ZrO2-NTs/Zr electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results indicated that ZrO2-NTs involve individual tubes with the diameter of 50–90 nm. In addition, Pt-NPs were homogeneously deposited on the surface of ZrO2-NTs with the size range of 10–20 nm. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) methods were used to study the electro-catalytic properties of Pt-NPs/ZrO2-NTs/Zr and flat Pt electrodes for ethanol oxidation. Experiments revealed the Pt-NPs/ZrO2-NTs/Zr electrode to have higher electro catalytic activity and better stability for ethanol oxidation when compared to flat Pt electrode.