Development of SDS Modified Graphite Electrode for Effective Oxidation of Methanol and Ethanol

Abstract

Methanol and ethanol fuel cells are getting important day by day because of energy crises. Main concern for fuel cell is the efficiency of the metal catalyst used for oxidation of methanol and ethanol. In this work, surfactant reformed electrodes by introducing sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), surfactant, at the surface of graphite electrodes along the metal nanoparticles were tried to develop. Idea behind it is to enhance the catalytic activity of metal nanoparticles through SDS. Modification of the graphite electrodes by SDS was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Afterwards through electrochemical deposition, iron nanoparticles were got deposited on SDS modified and unmodified graphite electrodes which acted as catalyst. SDS modified iron deposited electrodes were utilized for the oxidation of methanol and ethanol in basic media. It was expected that SDS deposited at the surface of the electrodes would play an effective role in enhancing the rate of the oxidation reaction just by creating interaction between catalyst and reactant. Similar oxidation reaction was studied using unmodified iron deposited graphite electrode. Comparison of the results of oxidation reactions encourages the use of surfactant to speed up the oxidation reaction.