Decorating the carbon felt electrode with polymeric platinize nanocomposite: characterization and electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

Abstract Herein, carbon felt (CF), a porous carbonaceous material is used as an anode in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) application. In order to enhance the electrochemical activity of this electrode, modification of the CF electrode is performed with a polymeric-platinize nanocomposite by a pure electrochemical method. In the modification process, 4-methyl-1,2-diaminobenzene is electropolymerized on the CF surface and then, Pt nanoparticles are electrodeposited on this substrate. Physical characteristics of the synthesized nanocomposite, Pt/p-MDAB/CF, are investigated by field emission scanning electron Microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra. The electrochemical studies such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy prove the Pt/p-MDAB/CF superiority over Pt/CF towards methanol oxidation. This superiority that results from the cooperation effect between carbonaceous-polymeric layer and Pt nanoparticles, introduces Pt/p-PDAB/CF as the suitable candidate anode for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Graphic Abstract: In this paper, Carbon felt is used as a substrate for deposition of a polymeric platinize nanocomposite. The synthesized nanocomposite exhibits the high CO tolerance during electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol. The synergetic effect between the polymeric layer and Pt nanoparticles is perceived by the comparison between the electrochemical performance of Pt/p-MDAB/CF and Pt/CF. Pt/p-MDAB/CF is an avenue to spread employing of DMFC.