Electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid on platinum nanoparticle electrode deposited on the nichrome substrate

A novel Pt nanoparticle electrode for formic acid electro-oxidation was studied. The Pt nanoparticles were grown directly on nichrome substrate by cyclic voltammetry in 5 mM K2PtCl6 + 0.5 M H2SO4 solutions. Scanning electron microscope was used to characterize the Pt nanoparticle surface. The electrochemical properties of the modified Pt electrode and its electrocatalytic behavior for formic acid electro-oxidation were studied. Results showed that the Pt nanoparticles improved the electrochemical properties of the substrate material and exhibited high catalytic activity towards formic acid electro-oxidation. Under the same condition, the catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticle electrode for formic acid electro-oxidation was 50 times higher than that obtained from pure platinum. Moreover. the amount of metal platinum on the catalyst was remarkably reduced and the cost of prepared electrode greatly decreased. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.