Electro-oxidation of Isopropanol on to Pt loaded Carbon Felt Surface Modified by Polyaniline

This paper describes the application of polyaniline( PANI) in modification of catalytic activity of Pt loaded C-felt electrode towards isopropanol (2-Propanol) electro-oxidation. Electro-catalytic activities have been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry technique. All the depositions were carried out galvanostatically. Electro-catalytic activity of electrodeposited platinum onto a carbon felt support was measured. The electrode surface was further modified with a film of polyaniline. The variation of catalytic activity in terms of ipa (oxidation current) towards 2-Propanol oxidation with the thickness of polyaniline film shows that while a thin film of PANI enhances catalytic activity of Pt, a thick film deactivates it. This has been explained by the presence of nano pores over the thin film of polyaniline and good alcohol adsorption onto modified electrode. A thick coating over the C-felt/Pt surface with PANI film decreases the oxidation current by blocking the diffusion of 2-Propanol molecules. Again, with increasing thickness, the number density of porous site onto the surface gradually decreases hindering adsorption of alcohol molecules.