Synthesis of ${\mathrm{\text{NiO/TiO}}}_2$ sub-microrods as catalyst for methanol oxidation reaction

${\mathrm{\text{NiO/TiO}}}_2$ sub-microrods have been synthesized via a simple two-step route. First, the precursors were prepared by a facile ethylene glycol-mediated method; then, ${\mathrm{\text{NiO/TiO}}}_2$ sub-microrods were obtained by a limited-oxygen atmosphere deriving from the decomposition of urea at $450^{\circ }$C for 3 h in air. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The obtained ${\mathrm{\text{NiO/TiO}}}_2$ sub-microrods exhibit cubic NiO structure with high crystallinity and anatase ${\mathrm{\text{TiO}}}_2$. Both SEM and TEM show the typical sub-microrods with lengths of $\sim 380$ nm and diameters of $\sim 180$ nm. The uniform sub-microrods have great electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation reaction in alkaline solution. This material may have potential applications in direct methanol fuel cells.