IN-SITU FTIR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ELECTROOXIDATION OF GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODES

The electrooxidation of glassy carbon electrodes in acid and neutral s olution has been investigated using in situ FTIR spectroelectrochemica l techniques. The formation and transformation of intermediate oxide s pecies in different potential regions has been observed. The results s how that in the lower anodic potential region (i.e., < + 1.2 V vs SCE) , the main reaction is the transformation of oxide species (i.e. pheno l-like species) initially on the carbon electrode surface. But in the high anodic potential region (i.e., > + 1.65 V vs SCE), the electrooxi dation of carbon is a combination of electrochemical and chemical oxid ation. A more detailed electrooxidation mechanism is proposed based on the experimental results.