Synthesis, characterization and electrocatalytic activity of SnO2, Pt-SnO2 thin films for methanol oxidation

•Galvanically, nanocrystalline SnO2 thin films were synthesized.•Pt doped SnO2 thin films were synthesized from chloroplatinic acid.•Electrocatalytic activity of these materials towards methanol oxidation was investigated.•Pt-SnO2 thin films showed better reactivity than SnO2.

The study demonstrates an approach to synthesize nanocrystalline SnO2 thin films on TCO (transparent conducting oxide) substrates. Un-doped and Pt-doped SnO2 thin films have been synthesized from the precursor solution of stannic chloride (SnCl4·5H2O) and chloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6·H2O). X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) and X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques were used to characterize the thin films. Optical characterizations were carried out by UV-Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The present method provides a simple and cost-effective way to deposit highly stable SnO2 and Pt-SnO2 thin films. The synthesized films were used as electrode and its catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation was investigated. The study reveals that Pt-SnO2 electrode is more effective for methanol electrooxidation than SnO2.

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