Fabrication of PAN/Pt Composite Electrode for Direct Methanol Oxidation in Aqueous Media

Abstract

This study was focused on the preparation and characterization of conducting polymer and metal composite, PAN/Pt, electrodes showing catalytic activity in acidic aqueous media. Electropolymerization deposited PAN thin film on ITO and this film was used as a Pt matrix. The polyaniline (PAN) matrix could adopt Pt particles catalysts into polymer itself visa either way of spontaneous reaction between PAN and PtCl₆ ²⁻ or electrochemical reduction of the Pt (IV). Both procedures ended up with the formation of PAN/Pt composites. In-situ spectroelectrochemistry was used to investigate the composite formation processes. These composite electrodes were identified with SEM and EDAX. Catalytic decomposition of methanol on these electrodes was observed by using cyclic voltammetry method.

Keywords:

• composite electrode
• electrocatalytic
• methanol oxidation
• platinum
• polyaniline

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to acknowledge the financial support from The ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy (RRC No 20020322–100) and The ministry of Education and Human resources Developement (Brain Korea 21 program).