Micelle‐Assisted Electrodeposition of Mesoporous Fe–Pt Smooth Thin Films and their Electrocatalytic Activity towards the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. Issue 2 (20th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Isarain‐Chávez, Eloy; Baró, Maria Dolors; Alcantara, Carlos; Pané, Salvador; Sort, Jordi; Pellicer, Eva
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 11:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 367
• Page End: 375
• Publication Date: 2017-12-20
• Subjects: electrocatalysis -- iron -- mesoporous materials -- micelles -- thin films; Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201701938
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Abstract : Smooth operator : Fe‐rich flat Fe–Pt mesoporous films are fabricated by template‐assisted electrodeposition onto various metallic substrates. The roughness and the amount of Fe incorporated in the films are influenced by the nature of the substrate. The films simultaneously exhibit ferromagnetic properties and electrocatalytic activity towards the hydrogen evolution reaction.