With a new set-up for in situ EXAFS spectroscopy the state of a carbon-supp
orted platinum catalyst during aqueous alcohol oxidation has been observed.
The catalyst deactivation during platinum-catalysed cyclohexanol oxidation
is caused by platinum surface oxide formation. The detected Pt-O co-ordina
tion at 2.10 Angstrom during exposure to nitrogen-saturated cyctohexanol so
lution is different from what is observed for the pure oxidised platinum su
rface (2.06 Angstrom).