Methanol electrooxidation on novel modified carbon paste electrodes with supported poly(isonicotinic acid) (sodium dodecyl sulfate)/Ni-Co electrocatalysts

Abstract

Poly(isonicotinic acid) (PINA) was formed by successive cyclic voltammetry in monomer solution in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the surface of a carbon paste electrode (CPE). Ni(II) and Co(II) ions were incorporated into the electrode by immersion of the polymer-modified electrodes in Ni(II) and Co(II) ion solutions in different proportions. After the preparation of modified electrodes, their electrochemical behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetric experiments. Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol at the surface of the modified electrodes was studied in 1 M NaOH solution. These modified electrodes exhibit high electrocatalytic activity and stability in alkaline solution, showing oxidation peaks at low potentials with high current densities. The electrooxidation of methanol was found to be more efficient on CPE/PINA(SDS)/Ni80Co20 than on CPE/PINA(SDS)/Ni and CPE/PINA(SDS)/Ni50Co50. The effects of various parameters such as scan rates and methanol concentration on the electrooxidation of methanol are also investigated.