Effective size-controlled synthesis and electrochemical characterization of ordered Pt nanopattern arrays from self-assembling block copolymer template

This work offers an effective size-controlled synthesis of platinum nanoparticle (Pt NP) arrays for electrocatalyst through self-assembled nanopatterns of block copolymers on titanium (Ti) wafers. Size, spacing and uniformity of Pt NP with loading of Pt to a minimum were investigated to be controlled and adjusted in order to improve the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) and ECSA stability, and Pt concentration in copolymer/chloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) solution was verified to be one of the most important factors to control the arrays' structure. In our case, the Pt NPs with predictable size of 5-16.5 nm could be obtained when the Pt concentration is larger than 0.05 mg ml(-1), which the dominant diameter is proved to be proportional to one-third power of the Pt concentration according to the linear relation of templates' Pt/N mass ratio versus Pt concentration, and the Pt NPs remain highly ordered arrays with predictable spacing when the Pt concentration is larger than 0.125 mg ml(-1). Decrease in Pt concentration from 2 to 0.125 mg ml(-1) is an effective method to improve the ECSA and durability simultaneously. The Pt NP arrays exhibit not only a remarkable initial ECSA value of 106.2 m(2) g(-1), but also a pseudo-zero particle aggregation possibility during 3000-cycle voltammetry, which is attributed to the high Pt NP dispersion and the ordered arrays that improve the Pt utilization and lower the possibility of aggregation.