Study of the electrooxidation of ethanol on hydrophobic electrodes by DEMS and HPLC

Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of ethanol in alkaline solution has been studied on Cu–PVC electrode and Ni/Cu–PVC composite electrodes modified by ruthenium nanoparticles. The techniques used were cyclic voltammetry (CV), steady-state potentiostatic method, on line differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The chemical products: acetaldehyde and acetic acid were detected measuring the proper mass charge ( m/ z) ratios. These products were also confirmed by HPLC. The surface modification of composite electrodes by ruthenium nanoparticles promotes the formation of acetaldehyde. As shown by DEMS, the surface modification shifts the onset potential for oxygen evolution reaction on the Cu–PVC composite electrode towards more anodic values.