Material properties of the Pt electrode deposited on nafion membrane by the impregnation-reduction method

Platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) were chemically deposited on a Nafion polymer electrolyte membrane by the impregnation-reduction (I-R) procedure to prepare an active electrode for solid electrochemical sensors. Various analysis methods such as SEM, EDX, XRD and cyclic voltammogram (CV) measurements were employed in order to characterize microstructures and electrochemical properties of the Pt layer. At the conditions ([Pt(NH3)4Cl2] = 10 mM, [NaBH4] = 60 mM, 50 degrees C), the porous Pt thin-film, consisting of sphere-like particles formed by the agglomeration of primary polycrystalline Pt NPs with an average crystal size of 13-18 nm, was obtained and confirmed to have a large surface area (roughness factor = 267) and strong adhesion due to the formation of interfacial Pt-Nafion composites. The secondary globular particles were found to have an average diameter of 215 nm and irregular protuberances on the surface. Furthermore, this electrode exhibited well-resolved CV peaks for the hydrogen redox reactions in an acid solution, suggesting the existence of different adsorption sites and good electrochemical behaviors. Pt/Nafion electrodes were prepared under different conditions in [Pt(NH3)4Cl2], [NaBH4] and reaction temperature, and their material properties were discussed from the viewpoint of a Pt growth mechanism.