Incorporation of Pt Particles in Boron-Doped Diamond Thin Films Applications in Electrocatalysis

Abstract

Polycrystalline, boron‐doped diamond (BDD) thin films were codeposited with particles on either conducting or substrates. These dimensionally stable and corrosion‐resistant electrodes consisted of well‐faceted microcrystallites with dispersed particles incorporated into the surface region. The metal particles were well anchored and ranged from 10 to in diam. The active metal loading was in the range of 200 to (diamond electrode geometric area) however, the real catalyst loading was estimated to be near . Importantly, the particles at the surface were in electronic communication with the current collecting substrate through the BDD matrix, and they were electroactive for underpotential deposition of hydrogen and oxidation of methanol. The dispersed particles were extremely stable as no loss in the activity was observed after 2000 potential cycles between the oxygen and hydrogen evolution regimes in . Characterization results are reported. ©2000 The Electrochemical Society