Fabrication and catalytic properties of Co-Ag-Pt nanoparticle-decorated titania nanotube arrays

Highly ordered titania nanotube arrays are fabricated by anodic oxidation of titanium in a fluoride-ion-containing electrolyte. In this work Co-Ag-Pt nanoparticles, approximately 20 nm in diameter, are electrochemically deposited inside the nanotubes and the catalytic properties of the resultant architecture examined using Mn2+/Mn3+ as the probe. The effect of Co, Ag, and Pt loading content on the catalytic activity is investigated. In comparison to a Pt electrode, the oxidation potential of the Co-Ag-Pt/titania nanotube array electrode is negatively shifted by 93 mV and the peak current increased by a factor of 9.