Electrodeposition of platinum on 3D-printed titanium mesh to produce tailored, high area anodes.

The versatility and convenience of 3D printing can be used to produce tailored metal mesh electrodes, which offer a high volumetric area and good gas release properties for applications in electrochemical technology. In this work, a titanium mesh with 20 ppi triangular pores was designed and then manufactured by 3D printing. A thin coating of platinum with strong adhesion was then applied by electrodeposition in a solution of hexachloroplatinic acid in HCl at 90°C. For this, a current of 0.1 A, corresponding to a current density of 0.92 mA cm⁻² was applied for 60 min to the work piece, which was previously etched in 10% (w/v) oxalic acid at 80°C. Compact, adherent and silver-grey platinum deposits, 0.16 µm average thickness and 0.33 mg cm⁻² Pt loading were obtained. The product can be used as an inert anode in nickel plating baths and as a porous electrode in organic electrosynthesis or cerium-based flow batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]