Electrochemical oxidation of ethanol at thermally prepared RuO2-modified electrodes in alkaline media

Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of ethanol was investigated at bare Ni, RuO2-modified Ti, and RuO2-modified Ni electrodes in alkaline media using cyclic voltammetry. Anodic peak currents for ethanol oxidation increased with an increase in the concentration of ethanol during forward potential sweeps, whereas the cathodic peak currents showed a decrease at these electrodes, suggesting that these electrodes act as effective electron transfer mediators. The most efficient oxidation was observed at the RuO2-modified Ni electrode. Nickel was found to facilitate the electro-oxidation of ethanol at the thermally prepared RuO2-modified Ni electrode in alkaline media. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(98)01-053-2. All rights reserved.