Synthesis and characterization of Pt-Ti4O7 microelectrode arrays

The synthesis of Pt-Ti₄O₇ microelectrode arrays is achieved from mixtures of TiO₂ and Ti₂O₃ powders plus Pt particles by a thermal procedure commonly used in solid-state chemistry. Data obtained for the Pt-Ti₄O₇ materials by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy are consistent with the existence of heterogeneous mixtures of Pt particles imbedded within the conductive Ti₄O₇ matrices. Rotated disc electrodes (RDEs) constructed from pure Pt and from the Pt-Ti₄O₇ materials are compared on the basis of their voltammetric and amperometric response for I^– and H₂O₂ in 0.10m H₂SO₄. The observed enhancement of current densities for the Pt-Ti₄O₇ RDEs is rationalized on the basis of the behaviour expected for microelectrode arrays.