Photo-assisted Enhancement of Formic Acid Oxidation over Platinized TiO2 Nanotube Composite
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Authors
Mojumder, Nazrul I.
Issue Date
2013
Type
Thesis
Language
Keywords
Formic acid , Photocatalysis , Photoelectrochemistry , Pt nanoparticles , Solvothermal , TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube
Alternative Title
Abstract
1D TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) prepared by anodization deposited with 0D Pt nanoparticles (TNT-Pt) prepared by a solvothermal method is used as a photoelectrocatalyst for formic acid (FA) oxidation. SEM, XRD, absorbance, EDX analysis indicates the polycrystalline TiO2 nanotubes of approximately 100±10 nm in diameter with 5-25 nm dimensions of Pt aggregates are formed. The composite was tested as a working electrode in the photoelectrooxidation of FA for applications such as fuel cells. Electrochemical characterization of the synthesized electrode was studied under the effect of light in order to determine the current generation of the photoactive electrode. The results show that Pt coupled with TiO2 leads to a synergistic, i.e. boosting effect, in the increase of current density. In the presence of light, there is about a 5-fold increase in current density (75.1 mA/cm2 ) as compared to the absence of light (16.0 mA/cm2 ). At a bias of 0.45 V the increase is about 20-fold in the presence of light (62.5 mA/cm2 ) compared to (3.04 mA/cm2 ) in the absence of light. In addition, the effect of light in the current generation as a result of voltage bias effect is shown, thus leading to the observation that the longer the working electrode encounters light, the greater number of electrons that are generated to yield a higher current density. The study of this effect indicates a progressive current generation from light off to light on, traversing the whole range of the current generation. Thus, a combination of Helmholtz electrical double layer based limitation and mass transport limitations determine the extent of this boosting phenomenon.
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In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)