Hierarchical TiO2 nanorods grown on carbon paper via the combination of pulsed laser deposited Ti seed layer and hydrothermal technique as advanced hybrid electrocatalyst support

Abstract

This work presents the hydrothermal synthesis of hierarchical TiO2 nanorods (NRs) grown for the first time from a pulsed laser deposited Ti seed layer on carbon paper (CP) substrate without the use of templates or binders. XRD reveals that TiO2-NRs crystallize in rutile phase. The as-prepared TiO2-NRs greatly enhances the electroactivity and stability of Pt towards ethanol oxidation reaction. Durability studies with chronoamperometry show the specific mass activity of the Pt/TiO2-NRs/CP catalyst is 47.92 ​mA ​mg−1 that is 7 times superior to that of the Pt commercial (6.72 ​mA ​mg−1). The Pt/TiO2-NRs/CP as anode in a membraneless microfluidic ethanol fuel cell delivers a maximum current density of 56.4 ​mA ​cm−2 and 5.1 ​mW ​cm−2 and a durability similar to commercial Pt anode of which the Pt loading is 16.7 higher than the Pt/TiO2-NRs/CP catalyst. This performance can be credited to the 3-D open porous interface built of hierarchical TiO2-NRs, which offers favorable electrolyte accessibility, better stability and straight pathways for the movement of electrons towards the electrode. Finally, the free-standing nature, the low platinum loading and the high stability make the TiO2-NRs/CP a promising catalyst support for fuel cell technologies.

Keywords

• Titanium Seed layer
• Carbon paper-coated titanium dioxide nanorods
• Self-supported hybrid structure
• Platinum electrocatalyst
• Ethanol electrooxidation
• Membraneless microfluidic fuel cell