Characterization of indium tin oxides thin films modified with ion implantation and its application for attachment of platinum nanoparticles

NH2+ ions implantation was performed at energy of 80 keV with the ion dose of 5.0 × 1015 ions cm−2 for indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, which formed a new electrode NH2/ITO. And then the electrode was immersed into the platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) solution, in which PtNPs were successfully attached to the surface of NH2/ITO electrode through the strong electrostatic attraction formed between PtNPs and the NH2/ITO surface, resulting platinum nanoparticles-attached NH2+ ions implantation-modified ITO (PtNPs/NH2/ITO) electrode. Results of X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and the water contact angle (WCA) measurements showed that the implanted NH2+ ions existed on the NH2/ITO surface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicated that the attachment of PtNPs to ITO surface was improved after NH2+ ions implantation. Cyclic voltammetric measurements were carried out to investigate the electrochemical performance of the PtNPs/NH2/ITO electrode. It was found that the PtNPs/NH2/ITO electrode showed high electrochemical activities and displayed good electrocatalytic oxidation response to methanol. Therefore, the modified electrode could be applicable to be the sensor for detecting methanol.

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► Amino groups can be introduced to the ITO surface by NH2+ ions implantation without using binder molecules.
► The NH2/ITO can offer a favorable substrate for the attachment of PtNPs with higher surface density.
► PtNPs/NH2/ITO electrode owned high electrochemical activities and good electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol.