Ethanol vs. glycerol: Understanding the lack of correlation between the oxidation currents and the production of CO2 on Pt nanoparticles.

C. A. MARTINS; P. S. FERNÁNDEZ; H. E. TROIANI; M. E. MARTINS; G. A. CÂMARA

ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013

0013-4686

Here we compare the electrooxidation of ethanol and glycerol on platinum nanoparticles. By using in situ FTIR we interpret the electrochemical behavior in terms of different pathways involving the production of carboxylic acids for both alcohols. For ethanol, CO2 is produced from CO in a direct pathway involving several electrons, while acetic acid is produced through a parallel pathway. Conversely, for glycerol CO2 seems to be mainly produced through a sequential pathway involving carboxylic acids, each one involving few electrons. The results suggest that glycerol demands surfaces that speed up the oxidation of partially oxidized species formed at intermediate potentials.