Support effects on the oxidation of methanol at platinum nanoparticles

The effects of Ru oxide and polyaniline supports on methanol oxidation have been investigated by drop coating of Pt nanoparticles onto glassy carbon electrodes coated with these materials. A thin Ru oxide film, deposited by the spontaneous reaction of Ru(VII) with the carbon surface, has been shown to exert a substantial effect, while the effects of polyaniline were insignificant. The influence of Ru oxide is attributed to the well-known bifunctional mechanism, while previous reports of enhanced methanol oxidation at polyaniline supported Pt catalysts are attributed to better Pt dispersion and/or enhanced transport properties of the catalysts. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.