ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF FORMALDEHYDE ON ULTRAFINE PALLADIUM PARTICLES SUPPORTED ON A GLASSY-CARBON

The effect of the particle size of ultrafine palladium particles suppo rted on a flat and dense glassy carbon on the electrochemical oxidatio n of formaldehyde in a perchloric acid solution has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential electrochemical mass spect roscopy (DEMS). A maximum for the specific activity of the oxidation o f HCHO on palladium particles was observed at ca 4.3 nm in diameter. T he current density for HCHO oxidation became very low with a decrease in the palladium particle size. As the oxidation product of HCHO, only carbon dioxide was detected by the DEMS as with the oxidation of HCOO H. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd