Titanate-SWCNT; synthesized via exploiting the interaction between TiO2 anatase with oxygen functionalized
SWCNT, supported Ag nanoparticles and Ag/titanate are characterized using XRD, TEM-EDXSAED,
N2 adsorption, Photoluminescence, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. These samples are tested for
methanol electrooxidation via using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance measurements. It is shown
that Ag/titanate nanotubes exhibited superior electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation
(4.2 mA cm2) than titanate-SWCNT, Ag/titanate-SWCNT and titanate. This study reveals the existence of
a strong metal-support interaction in Ag/titanate as explored via formation of TieOeAg bond at
896 cm1 and increasing surface area and pore volume (103 m2 g1, 0.21 cm3 g1) compared to Ag/
titanate-SWCNT (71 m2 g1, 0.175 cm3 g1) that suffers perturbation and defects following incorporation
of SWCNT and Ag. Embedding Ag preferably in SWCNT rather than titanate in Ag/titanate-SWCNT
disturbs the electron transfer compared to Ag/titanate. Charge transfer resistance depicted from
Nyquist impedance plots is found in the order of titanate > Ag/titanate-SWCNT > titanate-SWCNT > Ag/
titanate. Accordingly, Ag/titanate indicates a slower current degradation over time compared to rest of
catalysts. Conductivity measurements indicate that it follows the order Ag/titanate > Ag/titanate-
SWCNT > titanate > titanate-SWCNT declaring that SWCNT affects seriously the conductivity of Ag(titanate)
due to perturbations caused in titanate and sinking of electrons committed by Ago through
SWCNT. |
