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Hydrogen Oxidation-Mediated Current Discharge in Mesoporous Pt/TiO2 Nanocomposite
Nathan J Ray1, Eduard G Karpov1
1Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|December 10, 2016
Summary
This study demonstrates how hydrogen oxidation on platinum/titanium dioxide (Pt/TiO2) nanocomposites generates electrical current. This process converts chemical energy into usable electricity at room temperature.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Mesoporous platinum/titanium dioxide (Pt/TiO2) nanocomposites are investigated for energy conversion.
- Understanding the correlation between chemical reactions and electrical output is crucial for developing new energy technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide direct evidence of the link between hydrogen-to-water oxidation and electrical current generation.
- To characterize the performance of Pt/TiO2 heterojunction devices in converting chemical energy to electrical energy at room temperature.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of mesoporous TiO2 substrates using plasma electrolytic oxidation.
- Deposition of a 15 nm thick electrically continuous Pt mesh onto the TiO2 substrate.
- In situ measurements of reaction-induced current and mass spectrometry during hydrogen oxidation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a correlation between hydrogen oxidation and the generation of a stationary electrical current.
- Observed a saturation of the Pt/TiO2 interface with increasing hydrogen concentration, affecting turnover frequency.
- Identified a polarity switch in the reaction current concurrent with water production and desorption.
Conclusions:
- The Pt/TiO2 heterojunction effectively converts chemical energy from hydrogen oxidation into electrical current.
- The study provides insights into the reaction kinetics and interface dynamics governing this energy conversion process.
