Platinum nanoparticles on electrospun titania nanofibers as hydrogen sensing materials working at room temperature

Abstract

Platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), with diameters of 3–10 nm, were synthesized by water phase reduction, using 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate (3MPS) as a hydrophilic capping agent. PtNPs were deposited by a dipcoating technique on titania nanofibers (TiO₂NFs), obtained by electrospinning. The investigated properties of the Pt–TiO₂ hybrid at room temperature show that this material combines the properties of photoconduction of titania and the photocatalytic activity of the hybrid. To assess the best performance of Pt–TiO₂, different measurements were performed at room temperature, comparing hydrogen response under UV of the uncoated TiO₂NFs, compared with the Pt–TiO₂ system prepared with two different amounts of PtNPs. During the sensing tests toward hydrogen an enhancement of photoconductivity (150%), an increase in response (400%) and an overall improvement of their dynamic behaviour were observed.