Enhancement of ethanol electrooxidation on plasmonic Au/TiO2 nanotube arrays

Novel electrocatalysts Au/TiO2 nanotube arrays (Au/TiO2NTs) were prepared by loading low-content (1.9 at.%) of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto highly ordered TiO(2)nanotube arrays (TiO2NTs). Ethanol electrooxidation indicates that visible-light (lambda > 400 nm) irradiation can significantly enhance the activity as well as resist poisoning of Au/TiO2NTs electrocatalysts that are activated by plasmon resonance. Au/TiO2NTs catalysts cal cinated at 300 degrees C display the highest performance due to the strong synergistic interactions between TiO2 and Au NPs. The combination of visible-light irradiation with a controllable potential offers a new strategy for enhancing the performance of anodes in direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.