Highly uniform Pt nanoparticle decoration on TiO2 nanotube arrays: A refreshable platform for methanol electrooxidation

Pt nanoparticles (diameter ~ 5 nm) are decorated uniformly on the TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiNT) by a two-step photo irradiation method. The resulting hybrid nanotube arrays show an excellent catalytic activity for methanol electrooxidation. The anodic current density of methanol electrooxidation can significantly be improved compared with previous methods. The photocatalytic properties of TiO2 make the Pt/TiNT arrays reusable after a short UV treatment, and the electrooxidation current density of Pt/TiNT after UV-cleaning can almost fully be re-established.