Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen at vapor phase polymerized poly(3,4-ethylene- dioxidethiophene) modified glassy carbon electrode

Abstract

We successfully polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxidethiophene) by vapor phase polymerization technique on rotating glassy carbon disk electrode. The catalytic activity of this electrode towards oxygen reduction reaction was investigated and showed remarkable activity. Rotating disk voltammetry was used to study the kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction by plotting Levich, Koutecky Levich and Tafel plots. It was found that the reduction was mixed diffusion and kinetic controlled. The O₂ reduction underwent through four electron transfer reaction. The Tafel slope was obtained as 55 mV/dec. The limiting current density was higher by a factor of more than 10³ times the exchange current density.

KEYWORDS: Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxidethiophene), Vapor phase polymerization, Oxygen reduction, Glassy carbon electrode

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2012, 26(3), 449-454.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v26i3.14