Polypyrrole and platinum deposited onto carbon substrate to enhance direct methanol fuel cell electrodes behaviour

The aim of this work is to study the ability of polypyrrole to reduce the platinum load of low temperature methanol fuel cell electrodes. Platinum was deposited onto carbon paper and a layer of polypyrrole electrodeposited onto carbon paper, using electron beam evaporation and electrodeposition by pulses. Subsequently, the morphology and electrochemical behaviour of the synthesised samples were analysed in sulphuric acid solution, determining their electrochemically active surface area; and in a solution of sulphuric acid and methanol, to analyse their catalytic performance. The electrochemical measurements showed that the electrochemically active surface area and the catalytic performance of the electrodes prepared by evaporating platinum are increased when prepared on the polypyrrole film. Electrodes prepared using the pulse electrodeposition technique presented fairly homogeneous coatings that led to the reduction of the oxidation potential of methanol and the increase of their resistance to CO poisoning.