Preparation of Pd/Ti nanostructured electrodes by electrophoretic deposition

A Pd/Ti nanostructured electrode was prepared by means of electrophoretic d eposition of monodispersed Pd nanoparticles (11.9nm) in reverse micellar so lution, followed by sintering in an atmosphere of Ar/H-2(9/1) at 400 degree sC for 2h. Although small Pd agglomerates (c. a. 36nm) were formed, they co uld be deposited in an ordered manner on a Ti support under the electric fi eld. The electrochemical properties of the sintered Pd/Ti electrodes with v arious Pd amounts were investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry in 1.0 M NaOH solutions. It was observed that the resultant Pd/Ti nanostructured el ectrodes showed significantly higher electrocatalytic activities and lower hydrogen overpotentials than did the bulk I'd electrodes due to their Large specific surface areas. In addition, it was found that the hydrogen overpo tential was significantly reduced with a smaller amount of deposited Pd. Th is could be attributed to the increase of the specific surface area, result ing from reduced sintering.