Nanoplatinum-decorated polypyrrole/polyester composite electrodes for fuel cell application I: Synthesis and characterization
Abstract
Dense polypyrrole, PPy was successfully deposited via in situ oxidation of the monomer in the presence of a polyester textile with poly(sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) as dopant. Nanosized platinum (Pt) were deposited on the PPy cloth via electrochemical and formaldehyde oxidation-assisted platinum reduction (FOAPR). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies showed polydispersed platinum nanoparticles, with 80- 500 nm size distribution, on a discontinuous overlapping PPy morphology. Cross sectional SEM images showed that FOAPR produced smaller Pt particles but was destructive to the PPy layer due to its simultaneous reduction to polypyrrolidine. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) revealed three thermal events occuring on the composite at the working range of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.