ELECTROCATALYSIS AND RELATED FACTORS OF PLATINUM MICROPARTICLES DISPERSED ON IN POLYPYRROLE FILM IN METHANOL OXIDATION/

Platinum microparticles display effective electrocatalysis for methano l oxidation in 1 M MeOH + 1 M HClO4 and polypyrrole film exhibits a pr omotive action for such electrocatalysis. The electrocatalytic activit y is determined by the loading mass of the platinum microparticles, an d the potential and medium used for the electropolymerization of PPy f ilm. The thickness of the polypyrrole film under the chosen experiment al conditions is less critical towards the electrocatalysis of MeOH ox idation. The effect of the increase in electrode area due to the high dispersion of platinum microparticles is substantially deducted in the evaluation of the catalytic activity because the real surface of the platinum microparticles, rather than the projected area of the electro de, is used in the calculation of the current density. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science S.A. All rights reserved.