Bio-polymer based thermally stable composites as catalytic support materials for energy harvesting process

Abstract

In the present work, bio-based conductive polymer composites were developed to utilize as supporting material for anode catalysts for oxidation of fuels to generate electrical energy. An in-situ method was adopted to synthesize the conducting polymer carbon composites through combined condensation process by reacting terephthalaldehyde and benzidine, and reinforced with almond shell carbon (BT-ASC). Using formaldehyde reduction method platinum-tin nanoparticles were deposited on BT-ASC composites and were characterized using modern analytical instruments., viz., X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermal stability of the conducting polymer composites was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric analyses. Data obtained from different studies inferred that the Pt–Sn/BT-ASC catalyst possesses the maximum current density (88.6 mA/mg) with minimum oxidation potential than those of Pt–Sn/ASC, Pt/BT-ASC and Pt/ASC catalysts. The present work ascertains the importance of conducting polymer composites developed using reinforced with bio-carbon towards electro-oxidation of methanol and these supporting materials possess an enhanced catalytic activity than that of reported catalysts.