A simple one-pot Adams method route to conductive high surface area IrO2-TiO2 materials

Iridium titanium oxide materials were prepared using a simple one-pot method by reacting inorganic metal precursors with sodium nitrate at 350 degrees C (Adams method). HAADF-STEM images and XRD studies indicate a mixture of small TiO2 and IrO2 particles, with a particle size of IrO2 independent of nominal composition. Electronic conductivity was found to increase sharply once a critical Ir content of 40 mol% was reached and a rationale for this phenomenon is provided by percolation theory.