Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on semiconducting polymer nanocomposite in alkaline media

Composites of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and poly ortho aminophenol (POAP) semiconducting film with good uniformity for use as electrodes in catalytic oxidation were prepared by electropolymerization by using the ionic surfactant as electrolyte, for dispersing CNTs within conducting polymer/carbon nanotube composite films. The methods of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed for catalytic oxidation of methanol. A mechanism based on the electro-chemical generation of Ni (III) active sites and their subsequent consumptions by methanol have been discussed and the corresponding rate law under the control of charge transfer has been developed and kinetic parameters have been derived. In comparison with a Ni- POAP/ G, a Ni-MWCNT-POAP/G electrode shows a better catalytic performance for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol