Synthesis and Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction of Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Mesoporous TiO2

Platinum nanoparticles were supported on mesoporous TiO2 (Pt/TiO2) by an ultrasound-assisted reduction method. Sonochemistry also helped to further deposit the newly synthesized Pt nanoparticles on the TiO2. Structural and morphological properties of the prepared electrocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunnier Emmet Teller (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The electrochemical properties were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronoamperometry. The electrochemical property of Pt/TiO2 was characterized in 0.5 M of H2SO4. The electrochemical activity of the Pt/TiO2 catalyst was studied for the oxygen reduction reaction and compared with the commercial catalyst. It was found that the Pt/TiO2 showed a higher activity than the Pt supported on carbon; the enhanced activity could be attributed to the better dispersion and interaction of Pt nanoparticles with the support.