Low-loading platinum decorated aligned ZnO nanorods and their photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications

Abstract

Novel functional composite architectures, low-loading platinum (Pt) decorated aligned ZnO nanorods, have been synthesized by using a highly effective photochemical synthesis. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopy have been employed to characterize the samples. The analysis indicates that small Pt particles of about 3 nm in size are uniformly distributed on the surface of ZnO nanorods (about 60 nm in diameter). The as-prepared heterostructured Pt/ZnO catalyst shows the desirable activity for the photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange dye as well as electrocatalytic methanol oxidation. The findings suggest that this novel composite architecture could be used as a bi-functional catalyst for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications.