Applications of Real-Time FTIR Spectroscopy to the Elucidation of ComplexElectroorganic Pathways: Electrooxidation of Ethylene Glycol on Platinum, Gold, and Nickel in Alkaline Solution

摘要

The electrooxidation pathways of ethylene glycol in alkaline aqueous solution ongold, platinum, and nickel electrodes are explored by means of real-time FTIR spectroscopy in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry. The former enables a quantitative assay of specific intermediates and products formed during the reaction evolution. The electrooxidation on gold features the successive formation of partially oxidized C2 solution species on route to oxalate and carbonate production. The latter species is produced predominantly via the formation of the dialdehyde, glyoxal, based on comparisons with electrooxidative spectral sequences for candidates intermediate species. In contrast, ethylene glycol electrooxidation on platinum exhibits markedly different kinetics and product distributions to those for the partially oxidized C2 species, inferring that at least carbonate production from ethylene glycol occurs largely through sequences of chemisorbed, rather than solution-phase, intermediates.