Fabrication of Pt/porous PANI using attapulgite as template for electro-oxidation of glycerol

Abstract Pt/porous polyaniline (PANI) hybrid nanostructures were fabricated by using attapulgite (ATP) as sacrificial template. The as-synthesized composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and pore distribution (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique, BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the influence of ATP as a template on the electrocatalytic activity of Pt/porous PANI electrodes towards glycerol oxidation was investigated via cyclic voltammograms (CVs). The results showed that the as-synthesized Pt/porous PANI electrodes exhibited the excellent electrochemical performance while HCl was used as proton acid dopant, the ratio of m An /m ATP was 1:3 and the reaction time of removing template was 11 h. The Pt/porous PANI (1:3) demonstrated substantially enhanced electrocatalytic performance as compared to the Pt/PANI catalyst and commercial Pt/C catalyst, as evidenced by its higher catalytic activity and better anti-poisoning properties, which is attribute to the synergetic effect of interaction between Pt and porous PANI.