(PHOTO) ANODIC DECOMPOSITION OF 3-METHYL OXAZOLIDIN-2-ONE - AN IN-SITU FTIR STUDY

Oxidative breakdown of electrolyte solutions in 3-methyl oxazolidin-2- one (NMO) on photoexcited TiO2, and platinum electrodes was studied by (photo)electrochemistry, in-situ FTIR and GC-MS. The solvent oxidatio n at the platinum electrode starts at about 4.5 V vs. Li\Li+. It proce eds by a stepwise mechanism, while an intermediate product is detectab le within a time scale of 10(1) to 10(2) s. Carbon dioxide is one of t he final products. Another product is an electrochemically active spec ies, showing irreversible reduction at 3.7 to 3.9 V, and pseudo-revers ible reduction/oxidation at 2.9 to 3.1 V. This product was tentatively identified as a nitrogen-containing heterocycle. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sc ience S.A.