Metal-Dispersed Polyaniline Electrodes for the Anodes of the Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

To develop better and less expensive electrocatalysts for the oxidation of ethanol in direct ethanol fuel cells, several combinations of a conductive polymer polyaniline, dispersed Pt particles and pre-dispersed metal particles, such as Sn and Fe, were examined. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt particles was remarkably enhanced when the particles were dispersed on PANI films. The activity strongly depended on the morphology and the electrical conductivity of the five PANI films with different dopant anions: SO42-, NO3- and Cl-. The highest activity was achieved for the SO42--doped PANI film. To reduce the dispersed amount of the expensive Pt particles, inexpensive base metal particles were pre-dispersed on the PANI film, and the Pt particles were then dispersed on the film. The highest activity was obtained with Sn particles. This meant that utilizing dispersed Sn particles could reduce the dispersed amount of the Pt particles needed.