Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and C1 molecules on highly dispersed electrodes Part II: Platinum-ruthenium in polyaniline

The oxidation of methanol and C1 molecules at electrodes modified with polyaniline and particles of platinum and ruthenium has been studied in aqueous HClO₄ electrolyte. The platinum and ruthenium particles were incorporated into the polyaniline film by electrochemical reduction. The activity for the oxidation of C1 molecules is higher for bimetallic electrodes than for polyaniline-coated electrodes modified with platinum alone. Indeed, a negative shift of more than 100 mV is observed as compared to the potential obtained with a polyaniline film modified by pure platinum. Moreover, the oxidation of methanol is faster and more complete on the Pt-Ru modified polyaniline electrode, since carbon dioxide is the main reaction product.