Abstract
Electrically conducting polymer films of polypyrrole were previously reported1–6 to provide greatly enhanced stability against the photodegradation of semiconductor photoanodes in electrochemical photovoltaic cells. To determine the feasibility of protecting photoanodes with polypyrrole in photoelectrolysis cells where O2 is evolved some basic questions had to be answered. To achieve this we have performed experiments using polypyrrole films as protective coatings on Ta metal electrodes; Ta is known to form insulating oxides that prevent O2 evolution from aqueous solution. We found that polypyrrole is stable in the presence of O2; that while polypyrrole itself is a poor electrocatalyst for O2 evolution, metal catalysts can be deposited on its surface to enhance O2 evolution; and that Ta–polypyrrole–Pt electrode structures are electrochemically indistinguishable from naked Pt electrodes with respect to O2 evolution.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Noufi, R. Frank, A. J. & Nozik, A. J. J. Am. chem. Soc. 103, 1849 (1981).
Noufi, R. Tench, D. & Warren, L. F. Warren, J. electrochem. Soc. 127, 2310 (1980).
Noufi, R. Tench, D. & Warren, L. F. J. electrochem. Soc. (in the press).
Fan, F. R. F. Wheeler, B. Bard, A. J. & Noufi, R. J. electrochem. Soc. 128, 2042 (1981).
Skotheim, T. Lundstrom, I. & Prejza, J. J. electrochem. Soc. 128, 1625 (1981).
Frank, A. J. in Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals (eds Conwell, E. M. & Epstein, A. J.) (Gordon & Breach, New York, in the press).
Nozik, A. J. A. Rev. phys. Chem. 29, 189 (1978).
Wrighton, M. S. Accts chem. Res. 12, 303 (1979).
Bard, A. J. Science 207, 139 (1979).
Heller, A. Accts chem. Res. 14, 154 (1981).
Harris, L. A. & Wilson, R. H. A. Rev. Mater. Sci. 8, 99 (1978).
Diaz, A. F. Kanasawa, K. K. & Gardini, G. P. JCS Chem. Commun. 635 (1979).
Diaz, A. F. & Castillo, J. I. JCS Chem Commun. 397 (1980).
Diaz, A. F. & Logan, J. A. J. electroanalyt. Chem. 111, 111 (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cooper, G., Noufi, R., Frank, A. et al. Oxygen evolution on tantalum–polypyrrole–platinum anodes. Nature 295, 578–580 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/295578a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/295578a0
This article is cited by
-
Electrochemical deposition of conductive and adhesive polypyrrole-dopamine films
Scientific Reports (2016)
-
Polypyrrole/Bi2WO6 composite with high charge separation efficiency and enhanced photocatalytic activity
Journal of Materials Science (2014)
-
Conductivity measurements of electrodeposited polypyrrole
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry (1987)
-
Some properties of polypyrrole-paper composites
Journal of Electronic Materials (1984)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
