Graphene-poly(5-aminoindole) composite film as Pt catalyst support for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium

5-Aminoindole (AIn) was electropolymerized on graphene (GE) modified glass carbon (GC) electrode in 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous solution containing 0.01 M AIn. Because of the catalytic effect of GE, the polymerization efficiency of AIn and the electrochemical activity of as-formed poly(5-aminoindole) (PAIn) were significantly improved on GE/GC electrode as compared to that on the bare GC electrode. The prepared PAIn/GE/GC electrode was used as substrate for Pt particle electrodeposition. SEM, EDX and Raman spectral were used to characterize the prepared electrodes. Electrocatalytic experiments demonstrate that the Pt/PAIn/GE/GC electrode possesses high catalytic activity toward methanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium, due to the good dispersion of Pt particles on PAIn/GE/GC and the electronic interactions between the metal particles and the polymer matrixes. Thus, PAIn can be a promising alternative for polymeric catalyst support in direct alcohol fuel cells. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.