Electrocatalytic activity of platinum modified polypyrrole films for the methanol oxidation reaction

The catalytic activity of platinum modified polypyrrole films prepared in different ways was studied for the methanol oxidation reaction. Surprisingly, no catalytic activity was observed for films modified with colloidal platinum particles incorporated into the film during its synthesis or for the film synthesised with tetrachloroplatinate complex as a nucleophilic counter-ion, which was subsequently cathodically reduced. On the other hand, high catalytic activity was observed for platinum deposited onto pre-synthesised polypyrrole film. The platinum load, film thickness and potential of platinum deposition were found to be important parameters. High electrocatalytic activity was also observed for platinum layers deposited directly onto the glassy carbon (GC) support. However, in the latter case the stability of the electrocatalytic activity was lower when compared with the polypyrrole film modified by cathodically deposited Pt.