Effect of deposition potential on the structure and electrocatalytic behavior of Pt micro/nanoparticles

In fuel cells, Pt is often employed as an electrode material to facilitate electrochemical reaction processes, in which morphology plays an important role. In this work, three kinds of Pt flowers have been prepared on a glassy electrode substrate via a facile electrochemical deposition in a solution of H3PO4; by controlling work potentials at −0.1 V, −0.2 V and −0.3 V, cauliflower-like, needle-like and rose-like shapes of Pt micro/nanoparticles as confirmed by SEM and XRD are obtained, respectively. Taking methanol oxidation as a model reaction and using CO stripping voltammogram in an acid medium, the electrocatalytic performance of as-prepared three Pt flowers has been evaluated. The three Pt flowers show different electrocatalytic activities, and the needle-like Pt flowers present the highest catalytic activity for electrooxidation of methanol and CO.

► Facile fabrication of cauliflower-like, needle-like and rose-like Pt micro/nanoparticles modified GC electrode.
► Varying the applied potential was found to affect the surface morphologies of Pt.
► The formed mechanism of different morphologies Pt was presented.
► Needle-like Pt flowers displayed the best electrocatalytic activity and stability.