Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on mono and bimetallic composite films: Pt and Pt–M (M = Ru, Ir and Sn) nano-particles in poly(o-aminophenol)

Mono and bimetallic composite catalysts have been formed by a three-step process, whereby the surface of aluminum electrode was pretreated upon immersion into a Pd(NH3)4Cl2 solution (p-Al), was subsequently coated with a thin poly(o-aminophenol) (PoAP) layer by potentiodynamic electropolymerization of o-aminophenol and Pt and Pt alloys nano-particles were finally dispersed into the PoAP film by electrochemical methods. The electrocatalytic properties of the platinum doped (Pt/PoAP/p-Al) and Pt alloys doped (Pt–M/PoAP/p-Al, M = Ru, Ir and Sn) electrodes towards the methanol oxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and compared with the electrocatalytic properties of pristine Pt and Pt particles on pretreated Al (Pt/p-Al) electrodes. The enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity of the Pt nano-particles, when Ru, Ir and Sn, are co-deposited in the polymer is also studied in detail. The effects of various parameters on the electrooxidation of methanol as well as the long-term stability of doped electrodes have also been investigated.