Abstract:
One dimensional metal oxides are attractive nanomaterials for photoelectrochemical
methanol oxidation application due to the fast charge diffusion in one directional pathway.
Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), an anodic reaction of direct methanol fuel
cells (DMFCs), is poor in kinetics, which need the to know the mechanism of fuel cell
working. Combining photocatalyst with electrocatalyst helps to stimulate the MOR
reaction kinetics, although it is contestable to combine specific photocatalyst with electrocatalysts
and knowing the mechanism of the photo-/ electrocatalysis. Here, we have
reported the synthesis of 1-D Pt@CeV O4@TiO2 composite heterostructure thin film
through a hydrothermal and Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR)
process. Which has shown best catalytic activity for MOR under illumination. The
characterization of Photo electrocatalyst includes XRD, SEM, EDS, RAMAN and UVvis
diffuse Reflectance which shows crystallinity, morphology, composition and optical
properties, respectively, of the resulting Pt@CeV O4@TiO2 heterostructures which can
be changed through changing the SILAR cycles. 1D TiO2 nanorods morphology contributes
not only more active sites but also results in more efficient transfer of the
photogenerated charges by the synergetic effect of heterojunction and photosensitization
helps in reducing the recombination of photogenerated electrons holes. Compared
to Pt@TiO2, the obtained Pt@CeV O4@TiO2 heterostructures exhibit enhanced photoelectrocatalytic
activity for methanol oxidation under visible-light irradiation. Because
the Pt@CeV O4@TiO2 help in charge separation and transfer, produced under light illuminations.
As the band gap alignment and compatible interfaces help in COads free
reaction mechanism.
