Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic activity of Pt–TiO2 films on boron-doped diamond substrate

Abstract In the present work boron-doped diamond (BDD) polycrystalline films were used as support for direct anodic deposition of hydrous titanium oxide, and continuous TiO 2 coatings were obtained by appropriately adjusting the deposition charge. The photoelectrochemical activity of the TiO 2 /BDD electrodes was investigated and it was found that, in terms of charge carriers separation efficiency, conductive diamond is a much better support for TiO 2 , compared to traditional carbonaceous materials such as glassy carbon. Further electrochemical deposition of platinum particles on the oxide-coated conductive diamond enabled the formation of a composite with enhanced electrochemically active surface area. The electrocatalytic and photocatalytic properties of the Pt/TiO 2 /BDD electrodes thus obtained were also scrutinized and it appeared that these hybrid systems also exhibit promising features for methanol anodic oxidation.