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1119363 
Journal Article 
Effects of electrolyte pH and composition on the ethanol electro-oxidation reaction 
Lai, SCS; Kleijn, SEF; Ozturk, FTZ; Vellinga, VCV; Koning, J; Rodriguez, P; Koper, MTM 
2010 
Yes 
Catalysis Today
ISSN: 0920-5861 
154 
1-2 
92-104 
WOS:000281068700014 
The electrochemical oxidation of ethanol has been studied on platinum and gold electrodes by a combination of electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques in electrolytes of varying pH and composition, the latter primarily determined by the buffering anions. It was found that the activity of reaction increases significantly when the pH of the electrolyte is higher than 10. Furthermore, the results indicate that the selectivity of the reaction depends strongly on the nature of the electrolyte, and, to a smaller extent, on the electrolyte pH. In particular, carbon-carbon bond breaking, which is necessary to achieve full oxidation, could only be observed on platinum in the absence of strongly adsorbing anions. Based on these findings, a tentative general mechanism is suggested and discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 
Ethanol oxidation; Electrocatalysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy; pH dependence; Anion adsorption 
IRIS
• Methanol (Non-Cancer)
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