The electroreduction of formaldehyde on tin and indium

Abstract

The electrochemical behavior of formaldehyde on tin and indium cathodes has been studied over a wide range of pH (0.4–13), concentrations (1×10 −3 to 6×10 −1 M) and potentials. Potentiostatic, potentiodynamic, ac impedance and photoe mission techniques were used to determine the kinetics of the reaction and to postulate a mechanism. The behavior on indium is similar to that reported on mercury cathodes. Tafel slopes are about 65 to 80 mV/decade. This value indicates that protonation of a reaction intermediate is the rate determining step of the reaction. The value of the slope depends slightly on concentration and pH because of adsorption under Temkin conditions. The reaction order with respect to formaldehyde is close to 1 in the limiting current region, but smaller in the Tafel region. The effect of formaldehyde on tin in neutral and alkaline solutions is to decrease the hydrogen overpotential by about 0.5 V, without affecting the Tafel slope. The rate of formaldehyde reduction is very slow. An explanation for this catalytic effect is postulated, based on the adsorption of formaldehyde-related species on the electrode surface. Formation of bridge-type complexes is also postulated. The exact nature of the adsorbed species is unknown. Preliminary results indicate that the behavior of formaldehyde on lead is similar to that on tin. The influence of this species on the reduction of formic acid on tin and lead is discussed.