Abstract
The Pt/CNDs-TiO2 electrocatalyst was successfully synthesized by the alcohol reduction method. Titania (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized by the microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis method. The surface morphology of the synthesized materials was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). XPS results revealed the composition of the materials and the oxidation states of Pt in the synthesized electrocatalysts. TEM images proved that the materials were of the nanoscale. XRD patterns proved that titania nanoparticles synthesized by the microwave assisted hydrolysis exhibited an anatase form and Pt with (111), (200), (220) and (311) orientations was present in the synthesized electrocatalysts. The electrochemical oxidation of alcohols (methanol and ethanol) was studied in acidic media using linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Durability tests were obtained from cyclic voltammetry test by exposing each electrocatalyst to fifty cycles. A commercial 10% Pt/C and the synthesized Pt/CNDs electrocatalysts were used as standards and were tested under the same conditions for comparison purposes. The observed voltammograms showed that incorporation of TiO2 into Pt/CNDs increases electrocatalytic activity and durability of the electrocatalysts. After fifty cycles current retention densities of 13.17 μA cm-2 and 88.03 μA cm-2 were obtained for methanol and ethanol respectively. Chronoamperometry results proved that the Pt/CNDs-TiO2 has a slower poisoning rate compared to the Pt/CNDs and Pt/C electrocatalysts.
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