Preparation and Methanol Electrooxidation of Pt/PMo_(12)/PEDOT/GC Electrodes

Modification of phosphomolybdic acid (PMo12) on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) film (PEDOT/GC) obtained through the electrochemical polymerization was performed using adsorption method(PMo12/PEDOT/GC), followed by electrodepositing Pt on PMo12/PEDOT/GC, to prepare Pt/PMo12/PEDOT/GC electrode. Effects of PMo12 and PEDOT on the methanol oxidation performance of electrode were investigated. Results showed that PMo12 obviously changed the morphology and structure of Pt loaded on the electrode, leading to the formation of sharp thorns at the edge of Pt nanostructures. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry data demonstrated that the catalytic activities of methanol electrooxidation on the Pt/PMo12/PEDOT/GC and Pt/PEDOT/GC electrodes were higher than that on Pt/C, and the former exhibited the best performance. It was found that the presence of PEDOT not only increased the current, but also lowered the onset potential towards methanol oxidation. After further modification of PMo12, the current of methanol oxidation was significantly increased, while the onset potential of methanol oxidation remained unaffected.