Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Polyaniline-Supported Atomic Gold Electrodes: Comparison with Macro Electrodes

  • Published:
Catalysis Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Under precisely controlled conditions, atomic gold electrodes with even or odd number of Au atoms per polyaniline repeat unit (Pt/PANI/Au N for 0 < N < 7) were prepared. The electrochemical behavior of these new electrodes is compared with that of macro gold and PANI coated platinum electrodes by testing electrochemical oxidation of n-propanol and iso-propanol. This study allowed us to separate the behavior dominated by that of macroscopic gold in strongly alkaline medium and by that of the quantized odd–even effect of atomic gold. Within this overarching scope, there is a specific oxidation pattern attributable to the structural differences between the two isomers of propanol. The significance of this research lies in the recognition of high specific catalytic activity of atomic gold, which is at least three orders of magnitude higher than that of bulk gold for the oxidation of alcohols. It points to a substantial saving of the precious metal without the loss of catalytic activity, which is important in fuel cells and in other energy conversion device applications.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lamy C, Belgsir EM, Leger JM (2001) J Appl Electrochem 31:799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Sen Gupta S, Datta J (2005) J Chem Sci 117: 337

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kwon Y, Lai SCS, Rodriguez P, Koper MTM (2011) J Am Chem Soc 133:6914

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cherevko S, Kulyk N, Chung C-H (2012) Electrochem Acta 69:190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. de Lima RB, Varela H (2008) Gold Bulletin 41:15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Matsuoka K, Inaba M, Iriyama Y, Abe T, Ogumi Z, Matsuoka M (2002) Fuel Cells 2:35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Beltowska-Brzezinska M, Luczak T, Holze R (1997) J Appl Electrochem 27:999

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Smith JA, Josowicz M, Janata J (2003) J Electrochem Soc 150:E384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hatchett DW, Josowicz M (2008) Chem Rev 108:746

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Genies EM, Boyle A, Lapkowski M, Tsintavis C (1990) Synth Met 36:139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Syed AA, Dinesan MK (1991) Talanta 38:815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jonke AP, Josowicz M, Janata J, Engelhard MH (2010) J Electrochem Soc 157:P83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Saheb A, Smith JA, Josowicz M, Janata J, Baer DR, Engelhard MH (2008) J Electroanal Chem 621:238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jonke AP, Josowicz M, Janata J (2012) J Electrochem Soc 159:P40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. McMurry J (2003) Organic chemistry. Brooks/Cole, Belmont

  16. Desilvestro J, Weaver MJ (1986) J Electroanal Chem 209:377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Celdran R, Gonzalez-Velasco JJ (1981) Electrochem Acta 26:525

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ye JQ, Liu HP, Xu CW, Jiang SP, Tong YX (2007) Electrochem Commun 9:2760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ocon P, Alonso C, Celdran R, Gonzalez-Velasco J (1986) J Electroanal Chem 206:179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Fernandez EM, Soler JM, Garzon IL, Balbas LC (2004) Phys Rev B 70:

  21. Hakkinen H, Landman U (2000) Phys Rev B 62:R2287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Bard J, Faulkner RL (2001) Electrochemical methods: fundamentals and applications. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  23. Nowicka AM, Hasse U, Sievers G, Donten M, Stojek Z, Fletcher S, Scholz F (2010) Angewandte Chemie -International Edition, 49: 3006–3009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the Georgia Research Alliance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0400, USA

    Ilana Schwartz, Alex P. Jonke, Mira Josowicz & Jiří Janata

Authors
  1. Ilana Schwartz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alex P. Jonke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mira Josowicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jiří Janata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiří Janata.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (TIFF 505 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schwartz, I., Jonke, A.P., Josowicz, M. et al. Polyaniline-Supported Atomic Gold Electrodes: Comparison with Macro Electrodes. Catal Lett 142, 1344–1351 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-012-0895-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-012-0895-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation