Synthesis and characterization of preferentially oriented (1 0 0) Pt nanowires

Two types of platinum deposits were obtained by potentiostatic deposition onto Ti substrates, namely platinum black (Pt B) and platinum nanowires (Pt NW) with the latter being achieved through a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane at the solution/substrate interface. Surface characterization of these deposits was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in sulphuric acid solution. Surface properties for Pt NW revealed a predominant presence of (1 0 0) crystallographic planes, not present in Pt B deposit grown in the same conditions. Also, Pt NW exhibits an increased resistance to electrochemically active surface area (EASA) loss upon potential cycling in acidic solution, as compared to Pt B.