Die kathodische Sauerstoffreduktion an pyrolytisch abgeschiedenem Kohlenstoff in peroxidhältigen alkalischen Elektrolyten

The kinetics of the system O₂/HO₂ ^?, OH^? were studied at pyrolytic carbon in alkaline electrolytes. The rest potentials are close to the reversible values. They decrease by 30 mV when the HO₂ ^?-concentration is increased by a factor 10. CathodicTafel lines displayb-values between 70 and 95 mV. The exchange current densities are evaluated by extrapolation ofTafel lines to zero overvoltage and from the charge transfer resistance. Two different succeeding charge transfer reactions occur in course of the overall process, the first of which is the rate-determining step. A cathodic reaction order of zero is obtained with respect to HO₂ ^?. Theb values of anodicTafel lines are between 60 and 80 mV, the corresponding reaction order concerning the HO₂ ^? concentration is found to be +0.5. The kinetic studies prove the reversibility of the system O₂/HO₂ ^?, OH^? at carbon electrodes. The reaction mechanism is: $$begin{array}{*{20}c} {O_2 + e^ - rightleftarrows O_2 } {O_{2^ - } + H_2 O rightleftarrows HO_2 + OH - } {HO_2 + e^ - rightleftarrows HO_{2^ - } } end{array} $$ .