Synthesis of High-Surface-Area Platinum Nanotubes Using a Viral Template

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 1295 - 1300
• Main Authors: Górzny, Marcin Ł., Walton, Alex S., Evans, Stephen D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 23.04.2010; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Biotemplates; Fuel cells; Nanotubes; Platinum; Viruses
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200902196

A novel method for the synthesis of high‐active‐surface‐area, platinum–tobacco mosaic virus (Pt–TMV) nanotubes is presented. A platinum salt is reduced to its metallic form on the external surface of a rod‐shaped TMV by methanol, which serves as a solvent and reductant simultaneously. It was found that for the same Pt loading the Pt–TMV nanotubes had an electrochemically active surface area between 4 to 8 times larger than similarly sized Pt nanoparticles. A Pt–TMV catalyst displays greater stability in acidic conditions than those based on nanoparticles. When used as a catalyst for methanol oxidation, these Pt nanotubes display a 65% increase in catalytic mass activity compared to that based on Pt nanoparticles. High‐surface‐area Pt–tobacco mosaic virus (Pt–TMV) nanotubes are synthesized using an alcohol reduction method. For the same Pt loading, Pt–TMV nanotubes have an electrochemically active surface area at least 3.7 times larger than Pt nanoparticles. The Pt–TMV system, used as a catalyst for methanol oxidation, shows 65% higher catalytic mass activity than catalyst‐based on Pt nanoparticles.