Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on PPy electrode modified by gold using the cementation process

The preparation by the electrochemical cementation process of dispersed gold microparticles on polypyrrole (PPy) coatings on iron surface and their electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation were studied. The reaction of cementation of gold onto Fe/PPy electrode was shown to be under chemical control with a high activation energy. These films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and cyclic voltammetry. These dispersed Au microparticles exhibit higher electrocatalytic activity than a bare gold electrode towards the electrochemical oxidation of methanol in acidic media.