Preparation of polyaniline-tin dioxide composites and their application in methanol electro-oxidation

Polyaniline-tin dioxide (PANI-SnO2) composites were prepared by chemical polymerization method, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Due to the good stability in diluted acidic solution, PANI-SnO2 composites were selected as the catalyst support and second catalyst for methanol electro-oxidation. The electrocatalytic properties of the PANI-SnO2 supported Pt catalyst (Pt/PANI-SnO2) for methanol oxidation have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and chronopotentiometry. Under the same loading mass of Pt, the Pt/PANI-SnO2 catalyst shows higher electrocatalytic activity towards methanol electro-oxidation than Pt/SnO2 catalyst.