EQCM behavior of copper anodes in alkaline medium and characterization of the electrocatalysis of ethanol oxidation by Cu(III)

Abstract

The anodic oxidation of copper electrodes in alkaline solutions was investigated by using voltammetry, chronoamperometry, impedance measurements and the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Experiments were carried out in NaOH solutions in the 0.1 to 3.0 mol L-1 concentration range. The formation of soluble and insoluble species such as Cu(OH) 42- and Cu2O during the electrodic dissolution of copper anodes was characterized by analyzing potentiodynamic mass responses and the relationship between mass changes and charge. On the other hand, EQCM data were not effective to confirm the nature of other copper species proposed in literature named as CuO and Cu(OH)2 because of viscoelastic changes in the film layer electrodeposited onto the quartz crystal. The participation of a Cu(III) soluble species in the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol was proved by EQCM measurements, data providing valuable information on the mechanism of the electrode process and formation of a Cu(II) insoluble species from the reaction of Cu(III) with ethanol. © 2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.