Electrochemical deposition of gold–platinum alloy nanoparticles on an indium tin oxide electrode and their electrocatalytic applications

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 55; no. 17; pp. 4909 - 4914
• Main Authors: Song, Yan, Ma, Yuting, Wang, Yuan, Di, Junwei, Tu, Yifeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bimetal nanoparticles; Catalytic reaction; Chemistry; Deposition; Electrochemistry; Electrodeposition; Electrodes; Electrodes: preparations and properties; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Gold; Indium tin oxide; Nanoparticles; Noble metal; Other electrodes; Spectroscopy; Study of interfaces; X-rays; Noble metal; Electrodeposition; Catalytic reaction; Bimetal nanoparticles; Scanning electron microscopy; Oxygen; Indium tin oxide electrode; Nanoparticle; Nitrites; Transition metal; X ray diffraction; Inorganic compound; Surface structure; Cyclic voltammetry; Electrocatalysis; Inorganic anion; Platinum alloy; Morphology; Gold alloy; Oxidation; Electrochemical reaction; Platinoid; Binary alloy; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2010.03.089

Gold–platinum (Au–Pt) hybrid nanoparticles (Au–PtNPs) were successfully deposited on an indium tin oxide (ITO) surface using a direct electrochemical method. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electrochemical methods. It was found that the size of the Au–PtNPs depends on the number of electrodeposition cycles. Au–PtNPs obtained by 20 electrodeposition cycles had a cauliflower-shaped structure with an average diameter of about 60 nm. These Au–PtNPs exhibited alloy properties. Electrochemical measurements showed that the charge transfer resistivity was significantly decreased for the Au–PtNPs/ITO electrode. Additionally, the Au–PtNPs displayed an electrocatalytic activity for nitrite oxidation and oxygen reduction. The Au–PtNPs/ITO electrodes reported herein could possibly be used as electrocatalysts and sensors.