Catalysis of the reduction of acetylene at poly-3-methylthiophene electrodes

Abstract Widespread interest has been evoked in recent years in conducting polymers due to their possibilities in the areas of battery/fuel cell research and electroanalysis. This study is part of a long-term effort to explore the potential applications of poly-3-methylthiophene (P3MT) electrodes, deposited both on noble metal electrodes and on active metals such as nickel, copper, iron and stainless steel, molybdenum (these are designated here as M/P3MT electrodes). Reported here are the results for the reduction of acetylene at M/P3MT electrodes, where M=Pt, glassy carbon, glassy carbon and Mo. We have found that it is possible to shift the product ratio for the reduction toward ethylene (as opposed to ethane) to a varying extent in these electrodes, especially when molybdenum is incorporated into the P3MT film.