ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF METHANOL ON POLYPYRROLE FILM-MODIFIED WITH PLATINUM MICROPARTICLES

The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on polypyrrole (PPy) film m odified with platinum microparticles has been studied by means of elec trochemical and in situ Fourier transform infrared techniques. The Pt microparticles, which were incorporated in the PPy film by the techniq ue of cyclic voltammetry, were uniformly dispersed. The modified elect rode exhibits significant electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol. The catalytic activities were found to be dependent on Pt loading and the thickness of the PPy film. The linearly adsorbed CO s pecies is the only intermediate of electrochemical oxidation of methan ol and can be readily oxidized at the modified electrodes. The enhance d electrocatalytic activities may be due to the uniform dispersion of Pt microparticles in the PPy film and the synergistic effects of the h ighly dispersed Pt microparticles and the PPy film. Finally, a reactio n mechanism is suggested.