SOME APPROACHES TO THE ADSORPTION OF FORMIC-ACID ON A SMOOTH PLATINUM-ELECTRODE IN ACID-MEDIUM

The adsorption of formic acid was investigated by voltammetric methods for different formic acid concentrations and potentials, in order to gain information on the possible role of adsorbed species in the irrev ersible electrooxidation pathways. Reversible potential-induced spectr al changes of the adsorbates formed by chemisorption of formic acid we re investigated by electrochemically modulated infrared reflectance sp ectroscopy. At low HCOOH concentrations, the adsorbed species has a re ductive Form in the hydrogen adsorption region. As the HCOOH concentra tion increases, N-eps decreases. Therefore, an oxidation mechanism is proposed as function of HCOOH concentration and adsorption potentials.