Ultrafast electrochemical deposition of core shell metal nanoparticles on TiO2 nanotubes for electrocatalytic applications

Abstract

In this work, we report a rapid and reliable electrochemical synthetic method for decoration of core–shell nanoparticles of Pt and Au over titania nanotubes (TNTs). The decoration was achieved in an ultrafast manner within a span of 60 s without using any reducing agents or any use of further thermal of chemical treatments. The successful formation of double shell nanoparticles such as AuPt@Pt-TNT, PtAu@Au-TNT and single shell nanoparticles such as Pt@Au-TNT was characterized by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) techniques. The synthesized core–shell nanoparticles showed good electrocatalytic activity towards aqueous and non-aqueous ORR applications.