Pt-Ru nanowire arrayed electrodes for nitrite detection

Pt-Ru nanowire arrayed electrodes were successfully synthesized by means of cathodic deposition technique using the membrane-template synthesis route. The desired there-dimensional architecture of Pt-Ru nanowire arrayed electrodes was characterized with scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction techniques. It was found that the co-deposition nanowires were freestanding on the substrate with an average diameter of about 30 nm, a nearly 9:1 atomic ratio of Pt to Ru and a face-centered cubic structure. The nanowire arrayed electrodes showed better catalytic ability than glass carbon electrode toward the oxidation of nitrite anions for the facility of electrolyte penetration, the ease of proton exchange/diffusion and the metallic conductivity of Pt-Ru nanowire arrayed electrodes. About 400 mV decreased overpotential and 2.7 fold enhanced voltammetric current were achieved.