Change of the morphology characteristics during a stabilization of a platinized-Ti electrode by an electrocleaning treatment

This work investigated the changes of the morphological characteristics of a platinized-Ti electrode by an electrocleaning treatment through several surface analysis methods: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, etc. The surface of the freshly prepared platinized-Ti electrode was composed of Pt hydrous oxide as well as Pt metal. The electrocleaning caused a morphological change: the fine polyps on the electrode surface disappeared due to the place-exchange process and the Pt hydrous oxide was converted to Pt metal. Eventually, after a sufficient electrocleaning process, the surface roughness of the platinized-Ti electrode was greatly reduced and its surface crystallinity was enhanced. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.