Electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol on various metal ad-layer modified Au(111) electrodes in alkaline solution

Ethanol oxidation was studied on single-crystal Au(111) electrodes that were modified by platinum, palladium, and cadmium metal ad-layers. The metal ad-layer modification was carried out by the underpotential deposition process, in which controlled amounts of Pt, Pd, and Cd were electrodeposited onto the substrate as submonolayer or monolayer coverage. The activity of the metal ad-layer modified Au(111) electrodes toward ethanol oxidation was studied in alkaline media, and recorded voltammograms were compared to those of bare single crystal Au(111) and polycrystalline gold and platinum disk electrodes. In terms of the desired shift in reduction potential and increased current density, the best electrocatalytic activity was obtained with a 30-s electrodeposited Pt ad-layer modified Au(111) electrode.