Three‐dimensional Pt catalyst on TiO2 structures: Synthesis, characterization, and optimal morphology for efficient ethanol electro‐oxidation in acidic medium

Abstract

Abstract By combining the hydrothermal and pulsed laser deposition methods, several three‐dimensional Pt catalysts on TiO2 structures are prepared and used for the electro‐oxidation of ethanol in acidic medium. SEM reveals that TiO2 prepared with 0.6 M of HCl consist of a mixture of nanowires and nanorods. For higher HCl concentrations, the TiO2 are either in the form of vertically aligned bars or large branched crystals in the form of flowers‐like. Despite having the same loading of Pt, among the 3D Pt/TiO2/Ti structures, only those with TiO2 prepared with 0.6 M of HCl shows a higher area specific activity and current mass activities exceptionally superior of about >50 times than those of unsupported Pt/Ti catalyst toward ethanol oxidation reaction, which suggests a promising application in ethanol fuel cells.

Keywords

• ethanol electro‐oxidation
• hydrothermal synthesis
• platinum
• pulsed laser deposition
• titanates