Basic Studies of Catalysts for the Carbon-Carbon Bond.

摘要

Work involved the search for a specific anode electrocatalyst and the study of mechanisms of glucose electrochemical oxidation. Work was carried out on gold-copper catalysts doped with cobalt and iron,and on finely divided crystalline platinum-nickel catalysts. The latter material matched the performance of platinum black at low currents and high voltages. Current-potential relationships,reaction orders,and activation energy were obtained for oxidation of glucose and gluconic acid. The main product of the reaction was carbon dioxide. The Faradaic efficiency of conversion to carbon dioxide ranged 18to 24electrons per molecule of glucose. A product of two-electron oxidation (hypothetically gluconic acid) was probably the reactant in the rate determining step. Gluconic acid was oxidizable in the same potential range as glucose. Glucose can be oxidized with high Faradaic efficiency to carbon monoxide in a usable potential range (300 mv vs. RHE). The high Faradaic efficiencies obtained with platinum black as anode indicated the possibility of achieving efficient biological fuel cells. (Author)