Pt nanoparticles ion-implanted onto indium tin oxide electrodes and their electrocatalytic activity towards methanol

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2013-03, Vol.225, p.9-12
• Main Authors: Liang, Fenfen, Tian, Huifeng, Jia, Mingzhe, Hu, Jingbo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrocatalyst; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrochemical oxidation; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; General and physical chemistry; Indium tin oxide; Ion implantation; Methanol; Methyl alcohol; Miscellaneous (electroosmosis, electrophoresis, electrochromism, electrocrystallization, ...); Nanoparticles; Platinum; Platinum nanoparticles; Scanning electron microscopy; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.09.093

A versatile and green method is developed to ion-implant novel Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) with an energy of 21 keV at a fluence of 1.0 × 1017 ions cm−2 onto indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. The morphology and structure of the PtNPs are characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing that the diameters range from 2 to 12 nm and the average radius is 8 nm. Based on the electrochemical oxidation of methanol, we find that the PtNP/ITO electrode exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity, which could be useful in fuel cells. ► A versatile and green strategy for the fabrication of PtNPs onto ITO using an ion-implanted method. ► Small size PtNPs exhibits well catalytic performance and stability towards the electrooxidation of methanol. ► PtNP/ITO electrode may be a more suitable electrode material for the direct methanol fuel cell.