Preparation and physical/electrochemical characterization of Pt/poly(vinylferrocenium) electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

Preparation and characterization of a platinum (Pt)-based catalyst using a redox polymer, poly(vinylferrocenium) (PVF+), as the Support material was described. Pt was obtained from aqueous solution of K2PtCl4 in the complex form. Pt particles were reduced by chemical and electrochemical means. Chemical reduction was performed using aqueous hydrazine solution and electrochemical reduction was carried out in H2SO4 solution. The Pt/PVF+ catalyst system showed catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry was used for the electrochemical characterization of the catalyst system. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS) of the catalyst system were also recorded. The system was tested in a single fuel cell configuration at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. The open circuit voltage (OCV) was 680 mV for the system and the maximum power density was 0.31 mW cm(-2) at a current density of 0.63 mA cm(-1). Catalytic activity of Pt/PVF+ system towards methanol oxidation was comparable with the related catalysts in the literature. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.