Electro-Oxidation of Glycerol on Platinum Modified by Adatoms: Activity and Selectivity Effects

• DOI: 10.1007/s11244-014-0292-6
• Publication Date: 2014-07-16T21:06:29Z
• Authors: Youngkook Kwon; Thomas J. P. Hers...; Marc T. M. Koper
• Keywords: Dihydroxyacetone; Alcohol Oxidation

Antimony irreversibly adsorbed on a carbon supported platinum electrode oxidizes glycerol selectively to dihydroxyacetone with a lower onset potential (ca. 150 mV) and a higher peak current density (ca. 170 %) compared to clean Pt/C. Pb, In, and Sn also promote the catalytic activity of glycerol oxidation, however the reaction pathway towards the primary alcohol oxidation remains unchanged. Higher surface coverage by adatoms on Pt/C generally increases the activity of glycerol oxidation.