Vertically Aligned and Surface Roughed Pt Nanostructured Wire Array as High Performance Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation

In this research, an enhanced electrocatalyst based on vertically aligned and surface roughened Pt nanostructured wire arrays (Pt NWAs) has been developed. Our results showed that Pt NWAs possessed extremely high electrochemical performance and efficiency toward methanol oxidation. The three-dimensional nanostructured wire array electrode was prepared with electrodeposition method using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane on silver substrate, after which the active array electrode was obtained by dissolving the AAO templates. Varying the electrodeposition current density and synthesis time led to the controlled length and surface roughness of the Pt nanostructured wires. Scanning electron microcopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction were employed to characterize the morphology, composition, and crystal structure of the nanostructured wires. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry were used to analyze the performance and endurance of the wire array electrode. Electro...