Electrochemical oxidation of dissolved carbon monoxide on gold electrode in alkaline medium

The study of the oxidation of dissolved CO is not much seen in the literature probably due to the strong adsorption of CO on platinum metals in acidic media. This work was thus undertaken to study the electrochemical oxidation of dissolved CO on Au in alkaline medium without the influence of adsorbed CO. Our results show that the electrochemical oxidation of dissolved CO on gold electrode is mainly diffusion-controlled process at the potential greater than 0.3V (vs. RHE). At the potential range between 0.0V and 0.3V, the oxidation process is a mixed-control process. Our data also confirm that the electrochemical oxidation of dissolved CO is affected by the presence of surface oxide on gold. The electrochemical oxidation of the dissolved CO at liquid-solid interface may provide certain practical uses in CO removal or low temperature fuel cell.