Synthesis and Characterization of Pt@CeVO4@TiO2 nanorods by Hydrothermal cum SILAR method for Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Oxidation of Methanol

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.