Template-Assisted Electrochemical Growth of Hydrous Ruthenium Oxide Nanotubes

Abstract

We demonstrate that ruthenium oxide (RuO2) nanotubes with controlled dimensions can be synthesized using facile electrochemical means and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. RuO2 nanotubes were formed using a cyclic voltammetric deposition technique and an aqueous plating solution composed of RuCl3. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was used to determine the effective electrochemical oxidation potential of Ru 3+ to RuO2. The length and wall thickness of RuO2 nanotubes can be adjusted by varying the range and cycles of the electrochemical cyclic voltammetric potentials. Thick-walled RuO2 nanotubes were obtained using a wide electrochemical potential range (−0.2~1 V). In contrast, an electrochemical deposition potential range from 0.8 to 1 V produced thin-walled and longer RuO2 nanotubes in an identical number of cycles. The dependence of wall thickness and length of RuO2 nanotubes on the range of cyclic voltammetric electrochemical potentials was attributed to the distinct ionic diffusion times. This significantly improves the ratio of surface area to mass of materials synthesized using AAO templates. Furthermore, this study is directive to the controlled synthesis of other metal oxide nanotubes using a similar strategy.

Template-Free Synthesis of Ruthenium Oxide Nanotubes for High-Performance Electrochemical Capacitors

“…39 However, previous reports of RuO 2 nanotubes have relied on a template-based method that relies on anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) or manganese oxide nanorods and, therefore, requires additional steps to remove the template. 40 The development of a simple, template-free method of producing RuO 2 nanotubes is therefore of great interest to large-scale preparation and application.…”

“…To this end, the use of nanotubes offers a number of advantages in terms of offering greater packing density, electron transport along the vertical axis, electrolyte access, and electrical contact without agglomeration; these ultimately lead to a higher rate capability and greater cyclic stability. − Of the various methods available for synthesizing nanotubes, solution-based chemical methods tend to provide the best combination of quality, quantity, and reproducibility. − Therefore, up until now, most 0D RuO 2 structures have been prepared by using either sol–gel or hydrothermal methods . However, previous reports of RuO 2 nanotubes have relied on a template-based method that relies on anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) or manganese oxide nanorods and, therefore, requires additional steps to remove the template . The development of a simple, template-free method of producing RuO 2 nanotubes is therefore of great interest to large-scale preparation and application.…”

The Effect of Preparation Parameters in Thermal Decomposition of Ruthenium Dioxide Electrodes on Chlorine Electro‐Catalytic Activity

“…Dimensionally stable anodes (DSA) for not only oxygen but also chlorine evolution has been widely used for over 40 years in the electrolysis industry due to their versatile electro‐catalytic properties and stability . DSA electrodes usually consist of a Ti support coated with active noble metal oxides or their mixtures with other non‐noble metal oxides on the surfaces . Nowadays, these anodes have practically completely replaced graphite anodes that had been widely used in the chlorine industry.…”