Facile electrodeposition fabrication of raspberry-like gold microspheres decorated polydiphenylamine nanohybrid coated electrode for efficient direct methanol fuel cell application

In this work, a simple two-step electrodeposition strategy has been successfully developed to fabricate morphology-controlled gold microspheres (AuMS) decorated polydiphenylamine (PDPA) nanohybrid modified FTO electrode. The physicochemical characterization of PDPA/AuMS modified electrode has been explored using XRD and SEM/EDX mapping techniques. Results showed the controlled synthesis of uniform-sized raspberry-like AuMS were decorated in the PDPA matrix to form the electrocatalytically active PDPA/AuMS nanohybrid ma-terial on the FTO electrode. As-fabricated PDPA/AuMS modified FTO electrode was used as an efficient elec-trocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction under an alkaline environment for fuel cell applications. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques were employed to investigate the as-prepared electrode's electrochemical responses and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). PDPA/AuMS hybrid electrode showed 1.04 mA/cm(2) as the current density at a lower scan rate (50 mV/sec) with a lower potential value of 0.43 V, which indicates the excellent electrocatalytic activity of the fabricated elec-trode. Moreover, the as-prepared electrode showed more extended stability and durability (60 min) towards MOR due to the combined existence of AuMS and PDPA matrix, which enhances the catalytic property. Based on the above results, an as-prepared PDPA/AuMS nanohybrid composite can be applied as a potential electro-catalyst/alternative electrode for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications.

Automated summary

In this work, a simple two-step electrodeposition strategy was developed to fabricate morphology-controlled gold microspheres (AuMS) decorated polydiphenylamine (PDPA) nanohybrid modified FTO electrode. The PDPA/AuMS modified electrode was characterized using XRD and SEM/EDX mapping techniques. The as-fabricated PDPA/AuMS modified FTO electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and exhibited extended stability and durability. Based on the results, the PDPA/AuMS nanohybrid composite can be applied as a potential electrocatalyst/alternative electrode for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications.