Polyaniline/Au Electrodes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate the use of polyaniline/gold modified electrodes that are to be used as the anode for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The objective of this work was to enhance the performance and viability of DMFCs by developing a more efficient catalyst for the oxidation of methanol. Polyaniline films with angstrom scale atomic gold clusters were used as an electroactive catalyst. These gold clusters are significantly different than what is traditionally used as they are composed of only a handful of atoms (1–10 atoms) and have unique physical and chemical properties. The PANI/Au modified electrodes are a new and promising catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells and can replace existing commercial catalysts. In this study, we illustrate how atomic clusters of gold incorporated in the conducting polymer polyaniline enhanced the oxidation signal of methanol exhibited by cyclic voltammetry.

Keywords:

• Conducting polymers
• Direct methanol fuel cells
• Gold catalyst
• Gold clusters
• Gold nanoparticles
• Polyaniline

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, RIMI program, Grant P20 MD001085, and the Department of Defense, Grant W911NF-06-1-0433, whose support is greatly appreciated.