Synthesis, Characterization and Electrocatalytic Properties of Titanate Nanostructures

The remarkable physicochemical properties of ferroelectric compounds have attracted sustained scientific and technological interests. Lead titanate (PbTiO3) is a typical perovskite ferroelectric material with a high Curie temperature and low dielectric constant and these properties make them suitable for multilayer capacitors, piezoelectric actuators and sensors [1-3]. In this work, the preparation of PbTiO3 nanoceramics using sol-gel method and their structural and electrocatalytic characterizations are reported. The structural properties of the nanoparticles were studied via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Using the techniques crystallization process, morphology and particle size of the calcined powders were characterized. The results showed that PbTiO3 nanoceramics with an average size ranging from 35-50 nm could be obtained after calcining of the dried gel at 550 °C for 2 h. Further, the electrocatalytic sensing behavior of PbTiO3 nanoparticles was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques in the presence of [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- redox couple. For achieving the purpose a PbTiO3 nanoceramics modified carbon paste electrode was designed (PTN/CPE). Then the oxidative behavior of the probe redox couple has been investigated by EIS and CV at the surface of the nano-structured modified electrode. Using the proposed method, the PTN/CPE showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- redox couple, and accelerated electron transfer between the electrode and analyte. Therefore, the electrochemical sensing experiments suggest that the PbTiO3 nanoceramics will become a potential candidate in the field of nanostructured electrochemical sensors.