The adsorption and oxidation of benzene in acidic media on platinum electro
des (polycrystalline and single-crystal electrodes) have been studied by cy
clic voltammetry and in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The o
xidation characteristics of benzene depend on the surface structure of the
platinum electrode used. In all platinum electrodes studied, the main reduc
tion product of benzene is: cyclohexane, and the oxidation products detecte
d by infrared spectroscopy have been CO2 and benzoquinone. Pt(100) is the s
urface more active for the oxidation of benzene to CO2 and Pt(110) is the s
urface more active for the reduction of benzene to cyclohexane. (C) 2000 El
sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.