Co-Sputtered Thin Film Consisting of Platinum
Nanoparticles Embedded in Graphite-Like Carbon and
Its High Electrocatalytic Properties for Electroanalysis
Tianyan You,
†
Osamu Niwa,*
,†
Tsutomu Horiuchi,
†
Masato Tomita,
†
Yuzuru Iwasaki,
†
Yuko Ueno,
†
and Shigeru Hirono
‡
NTT Lifestyle and Environmental Technology Labs, 3-1 Morinosato, Wakamiya,
Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan, and NTT Afty Corporation,
4-16-30 Shimorenjyaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0013 Japan
Received June 5, 2002. Revised Manuscript Received September 26, 2002
The radio frequency (RF) sputtering method was used to prepare nanoscale platinum (0)
particles highly dispersed in a graphite-like carbon film (Pt-NEGCF) by co-sputtering
platinum and carbon. The preparation is very simple, controllable, and reproducible. We
studied this film with respect to its structural characterization and electrocatalytic properties.
The XPS spectrum reveals that the platinum state in the Pt-NEGCF is platinum (0). TEM
images show that the structure of the carbon in the film is graphite-like and that the platinum
particles are highly dispersed in the carbon matrix. The electrochemical properties of the
Pt-NEGCF electrode were evaluated. Compared with Pt bulk electrode, this film electrode
is highly electrocatalytic as regards hydrogen evolution, dioxygen reduction, and hydrogen
peroxide oxidation with good stability.
Introduction
Highly dispersed nanoscale platinum particles have
been attracting growing interest because of their unique
physical and chemical properties, as well as with regard
to their applications in catalysis,
1-12
magnetism,
13
electronics,
14,15
and fuel cells.
16-21
There are several
methods for preparing metal clusters including chemical
reduction,
22-24
photolysis,
25
microwave,
26-27
an electro-
chemical process,
28-32
metal evaporation,
33-36
gas-phase
reduction,
37
and decomposition.
38-41
Most of the above
methods can produce nanoparticles on a supported
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81-46-240-
3517. Fax: +81-46-240-4728. E-mail: niwa@aecl.ntt.co.jp.
†
NTT Lifestyle and Environmental Technology Labs.
‡
NTT Afty Corporation.
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10.1021/cm020636k CCC: $22.00 © 2002 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 10/24/2002