1. Are Polyaniline and Polypyrrole Electrocatalysts for Oxygen (O 2 ) Reduction to Hydrogen Peroxide (H 2 O 2 )?
- Author
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Rabl H, Wielend D, Tekoglu S, Seelajaroen H, Neugebauer H, Heitzmann N, Apaydin DH, Scharber MC, and Sariciftci NS
- Abstract
In this report, we present results on the electrocatalytic activity of conducting polymers [polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy)] toward the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to hydrogen peroxide (H
2 O2 ). The electropolymerization of the polymers and electrolysis conditions were optimized for H2 O2 production. On flat glassy carbon (GC) electrodes, the faradaic efficiency (FE) for H2 O2 production was significantly improved by the polymers. Rotating disc electrode (RDE) studies revealed that this is mainly a result of blocking further H2 O2 to the water reduction pathway by the polymers. PPy on carbon paper (CP) significantly increased the molar production of H2 O2 by over 250% at an average FE of above 95% compared to bare CP with a FE of 25%. Thus, the polymers are acting as catalysts on the electrode for the ORR, although their catalytic mechanisms differ from other electrocatalysts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2020 American Chemical Society.)- Published
- 2020
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