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Micelle‐Assisted Electrodeposition of Mesoporous Fe–Pt Smooth Thin Films and their Electrocatalytic Activity towards the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Author(s) -
IsarainChávez Eloy,
Baró Maria Dolors,
Alcantara Carlos,
Pané Salvador,
Sort Jordi,
Pellicer Eva
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201701938
Subject(s) - mesoporous material , materials science , chemical engineering , micelle , substrate (aquarium) , thin film , copper , deposition (geology) , hydrogen , inorganic chemistry , catalysis , nanotechnology , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , paleontology , oceanography , sediment , engineering , biology , geology
Mesoporous Fe–Pt thin films are obtained by micelle‐assisted electrodeposition onto metallic substrates with dissimilar activity (namely, gold, copper, and aluminum seed layers evaporated on Si/Ti) under constant applied potential ( E =−1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and deposition time (600 s). The amphiphilic triblock copolymer Pluronic P‐123 is used as a soft template to guide the formation of mesopores. The occurrence of pores (ca. 7 nm in diameter) with narrow size distribution, distributed evenly over the surface, is observed in all cases. Despite the applied conditions being the same, the roughness and the amount of Fe incorporated in the films are influenced by the nature of the substrate. In particular, ultra‐smooth films containing a larger amount of Fe (21 wt %) are obtained when deposition takes place on the Au surface. X‐ray diffraction analyses reveal that Pt and Fe are alloyed to a certain extent, although some iron oxides/hydroxides also unavoidably form. The resulting films have been tested as electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. The mesoporous Fe‐rich Fe–Pt films on Au show excellent HER activity and cyclability.