Application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to organic electrocatalytic systems: Decomposition and electrooxidation of methanol and formic acid on gold and platinum-film electrodes
- Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
The nature of adsorbed species formed by decomposition of methanol and formic acid under voltammetric conditions on gold and platinum-coated gold electrodes in acidic and alkaline media has been explored by means of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Despite the observed absence of methanol electrooxidation on gold in perchloric acid, decomposition to yield adsorbed -CHO, -COH, and [eta][sup 2] (O,O) formate, as well as CO, was detected from the SER spectra. In contrast to the apparent inability of these species to undergo electrooxidation under such conditions, adsorbed CO formed from solution CO is seen to undergo remarkably facile electrooxidation on gold. Methanol, but not formate, undergoes electrooxidation in 0.1 M KOH; the former yields adsorbed CO extensively at higher concentrations. Despite facile electrooxidation of methanol on the platinum films in acid, little adsorbed CO is discerned to be present from both SERS and surface infrared spectroscopy. Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol is important in fuel cell technology. 34 refs., 6 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5833595
- Journal Information:
- Langmuir; (United States), Journal Name: Langmuir; (United States) Vol. 9:5; ISSN LANGD5; ISSN 0743-7463
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
300500 -- Fuel Cells
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400400* -- Electrochemistry
ALCOHOLS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
FORMIC ACID
FUEL CELLS
GOLD
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
METALS
METHANOL
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS