Electrochemical characterization of silver-platinum various ratio bimetallic nanoparticles modified electrodes

Abstract

Silver-platinum (Ag-Pt) bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with varying mole fractions (1:1, 1:3 and 3:1) were prepared by co-reduction of hexachloroplatinate and silver nitrate with sodium citrate. Upon successful formation of monometallic and bimetallic (BM) core shell nanoparticles, cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to characterize the NPs. The drop coated nanofilms on the GC electrode showed characteristic peaks of monometallic Ag NPs; Ag+/Ag0 redox couple as well as the Pt NPs; hydrogen adsorption and desorption peaks. Varying current trends were observed in the BM NPs ratios as; GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:3 > GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 3:1 > GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:1. Fundamental electrochemical properties such as; diffusion coefficient (D), electroactive surface coverage, electrochemical band gaps and electron transfer coefficient (α) and charge (Q) were assessed using Randles - Sevcik plot. High charge and surface coverage was observed in GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:3 accounting for its enhanced current. GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 3:1 showed high diffusion coefficient while GCE/Ag-Pt NPs 1:1 possessed high electron transfer coefficient, which is facilitated by its heterogeneous rate constant relative to other BM NPs ratios. Surface redox reaction was determined as adsorption controlled in all modified GCEs.