Formation of Pt/Pb nanoparticles by electrodeposition and redox replacement cycles on fluorine doped tin oxide glass

A two-stage approach that combines electrodeposition with redox replacement has been used to deposit Pt/Pb nanoparticles on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass. The deposition takes place by cycling between the two steps in a single electrolyte bath containing both Pb2+ and Pt2+ ions. In the first step, Pb is electrodeposited on FTO glass at a potential E-1 and in the second step, Pt replaces the sacrificial Pb directly on the surface at open circuit conditions until the open circuit potential reaches a value E-2. This method allows a quick deposition of Pt/Pb nanoparticles on Fro glass and the effects of E-1 and E-2 on the Pt/Pb formation and nanoparticle coverage of the surface were studied with SEM and XPS. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.