Synthesis and catalytic properties of modified electrodes by pulsed electrodeposition of Pt/PANI nanocomposite

Abstract

In this study, the modification of glassy carbon electrodes by potentiostatic pulsed deposition of platinum nanoparticles and potentiostatic pulsed polymerization of polyaniline nanofibers was investigated. During the preparation of the nano-composite materials, the control of the potentiostatic pulsed deposition and potentiostatic pulsed polymerization parameters, such as pulse potential, pulse width time, duty cycle, and platinum precursor concentration allowed the optimization of the size, shape, and distribution of the deposited Pt nanoparticles. It is noteworthy that the polymerization method, cyclic voltammetry method, or potentiostatic pulsed polymerization method show an important effect in the morphology of the deposited polyaniline (PANI) film. The obtained modified electrodes, with highly uniform and well dispersed platinum nanoparticles, exhibit good electrocatalytic properties towards methanol oxidation.