Adsorption and Oxidation of Methanol on a Platinum Electrode

Abstract
Kinetics of adsorption of methanol from onto a Pt electrode is examined. The electrode potential is stepped from 1.55v to a value in the range 0.2–0.7v, and an anodic current flows due to chemisorption of methanol. The resulting current‐time curves are analyzed according to Elovich kinetics, a procedure which allows evaluation of the initial current for a clean surface. A rate equation for adsorption is obtained on the basis of the potential and concentration dependence of initial current. Steady‐state equations for coverage and current are derived with the assumption of irreversibility for the adsorption and further oxidation reactions. The nature of the adsorbed intermediate is discussed by comparing the charges used in forming and oxidizing a monolayer, and the evidence suggests it has the same oxidation state as .