Deposition of clusters and nanoparticles onto boron-doped diamond electrodes for electrocatalysis

Metal and metal oxide particles and nanoparticles, differing from each other by their nature and synthesis technique, were deposited onto boron-doped diamond (BDD) thin film electrodes. The applicability in electrocatalysis of thermally decomposed IrO2 and Au nanoparticles, electrodeposited Pt particles, dendrimer-encapsulated Pt nanoparticles (Pt DENs) and microemulsion-synthesized Pt/Ru nanoparticles was studied, once deposited on BDD substrate. In all cases, the electrochemical response of the composite electrodes could be solely attributed to the supported particles. All the particles, with the exception of Pt DENs, exhibited electrocatalytic activity. Pt DENs inactivity has been attributed to insufficient removal of the dendrimer polymer matrix. It was concluded that the BDD electrode is a suitable substrate for the electrochemical investigation of supported catalytic nanoparticles.