Electrocatalysis by foreign metal monolayers: Oxidation of formic acid on palladium

Catalytic effects of foreign metal monolayers deposited at underpotentials have been found for the oxidation of formic acid on palladium electrode. Palladium is known to form no poisoning species in oxidation of HCOOH. However, the auto-inhibition of the reaction is found, caused most probably by a species _xC_x(OH)₂. Submonolayer amounts of Pb, Bi, Cd, Tl, Ag and Cu electrosorbed at underpotentials exhibited significant catalytic effects which could be explained by the so-called “third-body” effect in terms of a previously published semiquattitative model. The results have bearing on the understanding of the catalytic effects observed under comparable conditions on platinum and rhodium. Since these effects are orders of magnitude larger than those on palladium, the “third-body” effect probably plays only a minor role at the other two noble metals.     

Catalytic effects of monolayers of metals deposited at underpotentials: Oxidation of formic acid on platinum

An independent potentiometric method is developed for the determination of autoprotolysis constants of nonaqueous amphiprotic solvents. The data of potentiometric titrations of a weak protolyte (base or acid) with a strong one are used for calculation of both autoprotolysis constant of the solvent and acid—base constant of the protolyte. The calculations are based on the method of least-squares in combination with the “pit-mapping” procedure developed by Sillén. The validity of the method was proved by the determination of the autoprotolysis constant of water. The method has no restriction concerning the strength of the weak protolyte, the latter being its main advantage. The autoprotolysis constants of methanol and ethylene glycol were determined by means of the proposed method too. The obtained values of pK_MeOH=17.00 and pK_EG=15.91 are in a good agreement with some recent data.     

Electrocatalysis by thallium adatoms of the oxidation of formic acid on platinized platinum

With the use of a complex system combining radiotracer (adsorption) and pulsed potentiodynamic measurements, the adsorption and electrooxidation of formic acid on platinum modified by thallium adatoms were investigated. New data on the mechanism of electrocatalysis by thallium adatoms of the electrooxidation process of formic acid were obtained. The inhibiting action of thallium adatoms on the formation and electrooxidation of strongly adsorbed products of formic acid was proved.     

Electrochemical oxidation of formic acid at noble metals: Catalytic effects of foreign metal monolayers

The catalytic effects of a submonolayer of lead on noble metals have been shown and discussed in terms of a previously published model. A theoretical analysis of these effects is presented. It was demonstrated that foreign metal monolayers allow a determination of the true catalytic activity of electrodes in the case of self-poisoning reactions. A volcano-shaped curve for oxidation of formic acid on noble metal electrodes was obtained.     

Oxidation of formic acid on platinum electrodeposited on polished and oxidized glassy carbon

Formic acid oxidation at platinum electrochemically deposited on polished (GC/Pt) and oxidized glassy carbon (GC_ox/Pt) was examined with the objective of studying the effect of electrochemical treatment of the support on deposition of platinum and on the activity of Pt catalyst. The electrodes were characterised by STM and XPS techniques. The oxidative treatment of the support leads to deposition of smaller Pt particles in comparison with the one on the polished substrate. The XPS spectra indicated the increased fraction of functional (acidic) groups on the treated support as well as the higher fraction of oxygen containing species on Pt catalyst deposited on oxidised referring to Pt deposited on polished substrate.The activity of GC_ox/Pt electrode is increased by the factor of 2–4 for formic acid oxidation compared to the activity of GC/Pt electrode. This result is explained by the oxidative removal of CO_ad species leading to enhanced amount of Pt free sites available for direct formic acid oxidation to CO₂.     

Oxidation of formic acid on platinum surfaces decorated with cobalt(III) macrocyclic complexes

Platinum electrode decorated with three different mixed-ligand cobalt(III) complexes of the general formula [Co(Rdtc)cyclam](ClO₄)₂ [cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, Rdtc⁻ = morpholine-(Morphdtc), piperidine-(Pipdtc), and 4-methylpiperidine-(4-Mepipdtc) dithiocarbamates, respectively] was used to study oxidation of formic acid in acidic solution. The complexes were adsorbed on differently prepared Pt surfaces, at open circuit potential. The preliminary results show increased catalytic activity of Pt for formic acid oxidation with complex ion adsorbed on the polycrystalline surfaces. The increase in catalytic activity depends on the structure of the complex applied and follows the order of metal-coordinated bidentate ligand as Morphdtc > Pipdtc > 4-Mepipdtc. Based on IR and NMR data, the main characteristics of the Rdtc ligands do not vary dramatically, but high symmetry of the corresponding complexes decreases in the same order. Accordingly, the complexes are distinctively more mobile, causing chemical interactions to occur on the surface with appreciable speed and enhanced selectivity. The effect of the complexes on catalytic activity presumably depends on structural changes on Pt surfaces caused by their adsorption. The article is published in the original.     

Oxidation of formic acid by bromine in aqueous,strongly acid media

Spectrophotometric methods were used to investigate the rate of the reaction of Br₂ with HCOOH in aqueous, acidic media. The reaction products are Br^? and CO₂. The kinetics of this reaction are complicated by both the formation of Br₃^? as Br^? is formed and the dissociation of HCOOH into HCOO^? and H⁺. Previous work on this reaction was carried out at acidities lower than the highest used here and led to the conclusion that only HCOO^? reacts with Br₂. It is agreed that this is by far the principal reaction. However, at the highest acidity experiments, an added small component of reaction was found, and it is suggested that it results from the direct reaction of Br₂ with HCOOH itself. On this assumption, values of the rate constants for both reactions are derived here. The rate constant for the reaction of HCOO^? with Br₂ agrees with values previously reported, within a factor of 2 on the low side. The reaction involving HCOOH is more than 2000 times slower than the reaction involving HCOO^?, but it does contribute to the overall rate as [H⁺] approaches 1M. These derived rate constants are able to simulate quantitatively the authors' absorbance-versus-time data, demonstrating the validity of their data treatment methods, if not mechanistic assignments. Finally, activation parameters were determined for both rate constants. The values obtained are: ΔE^?(HCOOH + Br₂) = 13.3 ± 1.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^? (HCOOH + Br₂) = ?28 ± 3 cal/deg mol, ΔE^? (HCOO^? + Br₂) = 13.1 ± 0.9 kcal/mol, and ΔS^?(HCOO^? + Br₂) = ?12 ± 1 cal/deg mol. That the activation energies of the two reactions turn out to be essentially identical does not support the authors' suggestion that both HCOOH and HCOO^? react with Br₂.     

The influence of organic adsorbates on the UPD process. Oxidation of formic acid at UPD lead-modified platinum electrodes

The oxidation of formic acid at Pt electrodes in the presence of underpotentially deposited (UPD) Pb has been studied using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Although the current associated with the UPD process is largely obscured by current from the oxidation of formic acid, the mass response is dominated by the changes in UPD coverage. Thus examination of mass responses accompanying cyclic voltammetric and constant-potential experiments reveals both variations in UPD coverage and the manner in which the underpotential deposits are affected by adsorbates derived from formic acid. At low concentrations of formic acid there is some suppression of the underpotential deposit and data suggest that strongly adsorbing intermediates form most rapidly in the hydrogen adsorption region of potential. Mass responses also indicate slight increases in UPD coverage upon removal of strongly adsorbed species by oxidation. Oxidation of high concentrations (0.1 M) of formic acid induces a significant positive shift in the potential for removal of the UPD deposit on the positive scan, and on the subsequent negative scan the rapid reaction between the oxidized Pt surface and formic acid removes the oxide at a higher potential than normal and consequently allows the UPD process to begin at a more positive potential. Adsorption of Pb²⁺ at oxidized Pt surfaces is also inhibited by the presence of formic acid.     

The mechanism of formic acid electrooxidation on iron tetrasulfophthalocyanine-modified platinum electrode

The mechanism of formic acid electrooxidation on iron tetrasulfophthalocyanine (FeTSPc) modified Pt electrode was investigated with electrochemical methods. It was found that a “third-body” effect of FeTSPc on Pt electrode predominates during the electrooxidation process based on unusual electrochemical results. The modification leads formic acid electrooxidation to take place through a desired direct pathway, in which the mechanism is proposed to be the gradual dehydrogenation of formic acid and the reaction of formate with hydroxyl species.     

甲酸在Au（997）台阶表面的氧化反应

金催化是纳米催化的代表性体系之一,但对金催化作用的理解还存在争议,特别是金颗粒尺寸对其催化作用的影响.金颗粒尺寸减小导致的表面结构主要变化之一是表面配位不饱和金原子密度的增加,因此研究金原子配位结构对其催化作用的影响对于理解金催化作用尺寸依赖性具有重要意义.具有不同配位结构的金颗粒表面可以利用金台阶单晶表面来模拟.我们研究组以同时具有Au(111)平台和Au(111)台阶的Au(997)台阶表面为模型表面,发现Au(111)台阶原子在CO氧化、NO氧化和NO分解反应中表现出与Au(111)平台原子不同的催化性能.负载型Au颗粒催化甲酸氧化反应是重要的Au催化反应之一.本文利用程序升温脱附/反应谱(TDS/TPRS)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)研究了甲酸在清洁的和原子氧覆盖的Au(997)表面的吸附和氧化反应,观察到Au(111)台阶原子和Au(111)平台原子不同的催化甲酸根氧化反应行为.与甲酸根强相互作用的Au(111)台阶原子表现出比与甲酸根弱相互作用的Au(111)平台原子更高的催化甲酸根与原子氧发生氧化反应的反应活化能.在清洁Au(997)表面,甲酸分子发生可逆的分子吸附和脱附.甲酸分子在Au(111)台阶原子的吸附强于在Au(111)平台原子的吸附. TDS结果表明,吸附在Au(111)台阶原子的甲酸分子的脱附温度在190 K,吸附在Au(111)平台原子的甲酸分子的
　　脱附温度在170 K. XPS结果表明,分子吸附甲酸的C 1s和O 1s结合能分别位于289.1和532.8 eV.利用多层NO2的分解反应在Au(997)表面控制制备具有不同原子氧吸附位和覆盖度的原子氧覆盖Au(997)表面,包括氧原子吸附在(111)台阶位的0.02 ML-O(a)/Au(997)、氧原子同时吸附在(111)台阶位和(111)平台位的0.12 ML-O(a)/Au(997)、氧原子和氧岛吸附在(111)平台位和氧原子吸附在(111)台阶位的0.26 ML-O(a)/Au(997). TPRS和XPS结果表明,甲酸分子在105 K与Au(997)表面原子氧物种反应生成甲酸根和羟基物种,但甲酸根物种的进一步氧化反应依赖于Au原子配位结构和各种表面物种的相对覆盖度.在0.02 ML-O(a)/Au(997)表面暴露0.5 L甲酸时, Au(111)台阶位氧原子完全反应,甲酸过量.表面物种是Au(111)台阶位吸附的甲酸根、羟基和甲酸分子.在加热过程中,甲酸分子与羟基在181 K反应生成甲酸根和气相水分子(HCOOH(a)+ OH(a)= H2O + HCOO(a)),甲酸根在340 K发生歧化反应生成气相HCOOH和CO2分子(2HCOO(a)= CO2+ HCOOH).在0.12 ML-O(a)/Au(997)和0.26 ML-O(a)/Au(997)表面暴露0.5 L甲酸时,甲酸分子完全反应,原子氧过量.表面物种是Au(111)平台位和Au(111)台阶位吸附的甲酸根、羟基和原子氧.在加热过程中, Au(111)平台位和Au(111)台阶位的甲酸根分别在309和340 K同时发生氧化反应(HCOO(a)+ O(a)= H2O + CO2)和歧化反应(2HCOO(a)= CO2+ HCOOH)生成气相CO2, H2O和HCOOH分子.在0.26 ML-O(a)/Au(997)表面暴露10 L甲酸时,甲酸分子和原子氧均未完全消耗.表面物种是Au(111)平台位和Au(111)台阶位吸附的甲酸根、羟基、甲酸分子和原子氧.在加热过程中,除了上述甲酸根的氧化反应和歧化反应,还发生171 K的甲酸分子与羟基的反应(HCOOH(a)+ OH(a)= H2O + HCOO(a))和216 K的羟基并和反应(OH(a)+ OH(a)= H2O + O(a)).     

Alkanethiols on platinum: multicomponent self-assembled monolayers

We have studied the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of n-alkanethiols on platinum thin films using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and contact angle (CA) measurements. Specifically, SAMs of 1-hexanethiol, 1-dodecanethiol, and 1-octadecanethiol were grown on polycrystalline Pt films, and the effects of Pt surface preparation, deposition conditions, and solvent treatments on the initial quality and stability of the monolayer in air were investigated. The SAMs prepared under ambient conditions on piranha-cleaned and UV/ozone-cleaned substrates were compared to monolayers formed on template-stripped Pt in an inert atmosphere. We found that alkanethiols deposited from 1 mM ethanolic solutions on piranha-cleaned Pt formed densely packed monolayers in which alkyl chains were oriented close to the surface normal. Stored in the laboratory ambient, these monolayers were unchanged over about 1 week but were largely oxidized in about 1 month. No evidence was found of molecules being weakly bound within the monolayer or having undergone C-S bond scission; however, three distinct sulfur states were observed for all samples in the XPS of the S 2p region. The lowest- and highest-binding-energy components are assigned to alkylthiolate and partially oxidized alkylthiolate species, respectively. The remaining S 2p component (approximately one-third of the sulfur layer), intermediate in binding energy between the other two components, is attributed to a chemisorbed species with a S binding configuration distinct from the majority alkylthiolate: for example, S bound to Pt bound to O, S with a different Pt coordination number, or S in an adsorbed disulfide.     

Adsorbed formate: the key intermediate in the oxidation of formic acid on platinum electrodes

The electrooxidation of formic acid on Pt and other noble metal electrodes proceeds through a dual-path mechanism, composed of a direct path and an indirect path through adsorbed carbon monoxide, a poisoning intermediate. Adsorbed formate had been identified as the reactive intermediate in the direct path. Here we show that actually it is also the intermediate in the indirect path and is, hence, the key reaction intermediate, common to both the direct and indirect paths. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the dehydration of formic acid on Pt electrodes requires adjacent empty sites, and it is demonstrated that the reaction follows an apparently paradoxical electrochemical mechanism, in which an oxidation is immediately followed by a reduction.     

Kinetics of dissociative adsorption of formic acid on electrodes of tetrahexahedral platinum nanocrystals

In the present paper we study the kinetics of dissociative adsorption of formic acid on the electrode of tetrahexahedral platinum nanocrystals (THH Pt NCs). In situ FTIR spectroscopic results demonstrate that HCOOH can be oxidized to CO2 at a low potential (-0.2 V(SCE)) on the THH Pt NCs electrode, and the chemical bonds inside formic acid molecule are broken to form adsorbed COL species. The kinetics of the dissociative adsorption of HCOOH was quantitatively investigated by employing programmed potential s...     

活性炭及甲酸催化过氧化氢氧化噻吩脱硫研究

以噻吩代表汽油中的有机硫化合物,将其溶解于正辛烷配制成反应原料,考察了活性炭对噻吩的吸附脱硫情况,研究了质量分数为30％的过氧化氢水溶液为氧化剂,在活性炭和甲酸的催化作用下,反应原料中噻吩氧化脱硫。考察了活性炭的催化性能及反应条件对其催化性能的影响。实验结果表明,30％H2O2-HCOOH-AC（活性炭）三元体系产生的过氧甲酸和羟基自由基能将模型有机硫化合物氧化,噻吩的氧化脱硫率可达到85％以上;活性炭和甲酸的催化氧化性能明显优于单纯使用甲酸催化性能。甲酸浓度、活性炭加入量、过氧化氢初始浓度及温度对噻吩硫的氧化脱除均有影响。     

Nanostructured platinum as an electrocatalyst for the electrooxidation of formic acid

Nanostructured platinum prepared by the chemical reduction of hexachloroplatinic acid dissolved in aqueous domains of the liquid crystalline phases of oligoethylene oxide surfactants, was examined as an electrocatalyst for the electrooxidation of formic acid. The electrocatalytic properties of the catalyst combining highly specific surface areas and a periodic mesoporous nanostructure were accessed in sulfuric acid solution containing 0.5 mol dm⁻³ formic acid using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The electrocatalytic activity of the material at 60 °C, is characterised by a mass activity of 8.6 A g⁻¹ and a specific surface area activity of 26 μA cm⁻² at 0.376 V (vs. RHE). The resistance to CO poisoning was found to depend upon electrode potential. At hydrogen adsorption potentials, the material is easily poisoned, while the material shows high resistance to CO poisoning at potentials positive of the hydrogen region. These facts suggest that the decomposition of HCOOH on the mesoporous platinum is likely to proceed through a dual-path mechanism and the high surface area material is a potential electocatalyst towards the electrooxidation of small organic molecules.     

Potential oscillations in galvanostatic electrooxidation of formic acid on platinum: a mathematical modeling and simulation

We have modeled temporal potential oscillations during the electrooxidation of formic acid on platinum on the basis of the experimental results obtained by time-resolved surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 23509). The model was constructed within the framework of the so-called dual-path mechanism; a direct path via a reactive intermediate and an indirect path via strongly bonded CO formed by dehydration of formic acid. The model differs from earlier ones in the intermediate in the direct path. The reactive intermediate in this model is formate, and the oxidation of formate to CO2 is rate-determining. The reaction rate of the latter process is represented by a second-order rate equation. Simulations using this model well reproduce the experimentally observed oscillation patterns and the temporal changes in the coverages of the adsorbed formate and CO. Most properties of the voltammetric behavior of formic acid, including the potential dependence of adsorbate coverages and a negative differential resistance, are also reproduced.     

Potential oscillations in galvanostatic electrooxidation of formic acid on platinum: a time-resolved surface-enhanced infrared study

The mechanism of temporal potential oscillations that occur during galvanostatic formic acid oxidation on a Pt electrode has been investigated by time-resolved surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). Carbon monoxide (CO) and formate were found to adsorb on the surface and change their coverages synchronously with the temporal potential oscillations. Isotopic solution exchange (from H13COOH to H12COOH) and potential step experiments revealed that the oxidation of formic acid proceeds dominantly through adsorbed formate and the decomposition of formate to CO2 is the rate-determining step of the reaction. Adsorbed CO blocks the adsorption of formate and also suppresses the decomposition of formate to CO2, which raises the potential to maintain the applied current. The oxidative removal of CO at a high limiting potential increases the coverage of formate and accelerates the decomposition of formate, resulting in a potential drop and leading to the formation of CO. This cycle repeats itself to give the sustained temporal potential oscillations. The oscillatory dynamics can be explained by using a nonlinear rate equation originally proposed to explain the decomposition of formate and acetate on transition metal surfaces in UHV.