Development of rice straw black liquor based porous carbon-poly(aniline-co-methoxy aniline) as supporting for electrochemical performances of alcohol oxidations

Abstract

The present work had attempted to develop rice straw black liquor based porous carbon-poly (aniline-co-methoxy aniline) composite added catalysts for alcohol oxidation. In this aspect, nanoparticles of platinum-iridium and platinum were deposited on poly(aniline-co-methoxy aniline)-rice straw black liquor based porous carbon (Poly(Ani-co-MAni)-RSBLPC) composite. The electrochemical test has been carried out using Pt-Ir/Poly(Ani-co-MAni)-RSBLPC and Pt/Poly(Ani-co-MAni)-RSBLPC electrocatalysts in an alkaline solution of methanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol. For comparison, the electrochemical performance test is also done using Pt/Poly(Ani-co-MAni) and Pt/RSBLPC catalysts in basic solution of methanol. From electrochemical studies, it was noticed that platinum nanoparticles decorated Poly(Ani-co-MAni)-RSBLPC reveals a significant enhancement towards the oxidation of methanol in comparison with Pt/Poly(Ani-co-MAni) and Pt/RSBLPC catalysts, which will be expected from the synergic effect of rice straw black liquor based porous carbon and conductive polymer material. Furthermore, the bimetallic Pt-Ir/Poly(Ani-co-MAni)-RSBLPC catalyst showed enhanced catalytic activity in comparison with monometallic Pt/Poly(Ani-co-MAni)-RSBLPC catalyst. The above results suggested that Poly(Ani-co-MAni)-RSBLPC composite is a potent support and could be used as a potent low cost support for catalyst deposition towards fuel cell industries that include the applications of sensor and super capacitor.