Platinum Ordered Porous Electrodes: Developing a Platform for Fundamental Electrochemical Characterization

High surface area platinum electrodes with an ordered porous structure (Pt-OP electrodes) have been prepared and characterized by electrochemical methods. This study builds a foundation upon which we can seek an in-depth understanding of the limitations and design considerations to make efficient and stable Pt-OP electrodes for use in electrochemical applications. A set of Pt-OP electrodes were prepared by controlled electrodeposition of Pt through a self-assembled array of spherical particles and subsequent removal of the spherical templates by solvent extraction. The preparation method was shown to be reproducible and the resulting electrodes were found to have clean Pt surfaces and a large electrochemical surface area (A ecsa) resulting from both the porous structure, as well as the nano- and micro-scale surface roughness. Additionally, the Pt-OP electrodes exhibit a surface area enhancement comparable to commercially available electrocatalysts. In summary, the Pt-OP electrodes prepared herein show properties of interest for both gaining fundamental insights into electrocatalytic processes and for use in applications that would benefit from enhanced electrochemical response.