Multi-step electrode reactions reduction

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Dioxygen The electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen is another multi-electron transfer reaction (four electrons are involved) with several steps and intermediate species [16]. A four-electron mechanism, leading to water, is in competition with a two-electron mechanism, giving hydrogen peroxide. The four-electron mechanism on a Pt electrode can be written as follows ... 

Another mechanism for induced codeposition of Mo was suggested by Chassaing et al for electrodeposition of Mo-Ni alloys from citrate-ammonia electrolytes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were carried out in order to better understand the different reactions occurring on the electrode surface during deposition. The proposed mechanism is based on a multi-step reduction of molybdate species. A M0O2 layer is formed via reduction of molybdate ion as in Eq. (42). Then, if free Ni is present in solution, this oxide can first combine at low polarization with Ni, following the reduction reaction ... 

An example of the simplest (in the sense of the number of kinetic parameters) electrochemical reaction is reduction of silver ions (Ag+) from a dilute aqueous solution of a well soluble silver salt (e.g., nitrate) in the presence of excess of an indifferent salt (e.g., potassium nitrate) on a liquid silver-mercury alloy (also called amalgam) electrode. Besides the transfer of a single electron, only diffusion steps are involved in this process. The entire reaction can be very well modeled and the kinetic parameters are determined experimentally with high level of accuracy. The information gleaned while analyzing the mechanism of silver ion reduction can be used in elucidating more complex, multi-step, multiphase processes, such as the electrochemical reaction in a lithium-ion cell. 

By co-immobilizing tyrosinase with a serine esterase on a gold electrode, it is possible to establish a multi-step reaction pathway that allows the activity of the esterase to be determined indirectly via measurement of o-quinone reduction at die electrode. The molecular architecture of a bi-enzyme sensor interface is shown schematically in Figure 63.13 (Kohli et al., 2010). 

The hydrogen (H2)/oxygen (-02 ) anode/cathode combination is the most highly developed fuel cell. It continues to be an essential power source for manned space missions, which accounts for its advanced state of development. Beyond the practical problem of a gaseous fuel (H2), both electrode reactions require precious-metal catalysts (usually platinum supported on porous carbon electrodes). As indicated in earlier sections, electrochemistry is limited to pathways that involve one electron steps. Hence, the essential function of the electrocatalysts for H2 oxidation and -02- reduction is to provide such pathways for these multi-electron transformations. 

Fig. 18b.9. Example cychc voltammograms due to (a) multi-electron transfer redox reaction two-step reduction of methyl viologen MV2++e = MV++e = MV. (b) ferrocene confined as covalently attached surface-modified electroactive species—peaks show no diffusion tail, (c) follow-up chemical reaction A and C are electroactive, C is produced from B through irreversible chemical conversion of B, and (d) electrocatalysis of hydrogen peroxide decomposition by phosphomolybdic acid adsorbed on a graphite electrode.

The oxygen reduction reaction is a multi-electron process involving numerous steps and intermediate species. As stated above, ORR may proceed via four or two electron transfer in aqueous acidic medium. The most relevant reactions pathways and their thermodynamic electrode potentials in acidic medium are shown below ... 

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