Methanol at a Platinum Electrode

As a typical example, the mechanism of electrooxidation of CH3OH dissolved in an acid solution can proceed through different parallel paths. 

TABLE IX. Infrared Absorption Bands for CO Adsorbed on Noble Metals 

Pt 2060-2100 Strong Linearly bonded on smooth surfaces 2040-2090 Strong On smooth-surface electrodes 

Rh 2015-2170 1925 Strong Medium strong Linearly bonded Bridge-bonded 2030 1900 Strong Medium strong  

Au 2080-2100 Weak Linearly bonded 2120 1930 Very weak Very weak jStrongly influenced by the potential applied to the electrode 

---

From the results obtained with in situ reflectance spectroscopy and on-line analytical methods, investigators at Universite de Poitiers proposed a complete mechanism for the electrooxidation of methanol at a platinum electrode. The first step of the electrooxidation reaction is the dissociative adsorption of methanol, leading to several species according to the following equations ... 

Lopes MIS, Beden B, Hahn F, Leger J-M, Lamy C. 1991. On the nature of the adsorbates resulting from the chemisorption of methanol at a platinum electrode in acid medium An EMIRS study. J Electroanal Chem 313 323-339. 

---