The influence of orientation on the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of hydroquinone chemisorbed at smooth polycrystalline platinum electrodes

The influence of orientation on the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of hydroquinone (HQ) chemisorbed at smooth polycrystalline platinum electrodes in aqueous solutions has been investigated; experimental measurements, performed in the absence of bulk (unadsorbed) HQ, were based upon thin-layer electrochemical techniques. The extent of hydrogenation was characterized by (i) n_H. the average number of hydrogen atoms reacted per chemisorbed HQ molecule, and (ii) the electrolytic charge Q_ox for oxidation of chemisorbed organic which remained on the surface after the hydrogenation reaction. The measured values of n_H indicate that the extent of HQ hydrogenation is (i) dependent upon the potential E_Hyd at which hydrogenation was earned out, and (ii) a sensitive function of its initial adsorbed orientation; at a given E_Hyd, n_His larger in the flat (η⁶) than in the edge (2,3-η²) orientation. Correlation of Q_ox with n_H, indicates that an appreciable fraction of partially hydrogenated species is desorbed from the surface; this fraction, which is a function of E_Hyd, is larger in the 2.3-η² than in the η⁶ orientation.