Enhanced electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide at surfactant/salt modified electrodes

Gonzalez-Macia, Laura; Killard, Anthony

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is widely used in many biological systems and industrial processes in the textile, food, pharmaceutical and clinical sectors. The importance of hydrogen peroxide is related to its unique oxidising properties as well as decomposition, which plays a very important role in the manufacture of industrial water electrolysers, secondary metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Therefore, the accurate and rapid determination of H2O2 is extremely important.
Electrochemical H2O2 sensors are shown to be an appropriate alternative to the traditional methods (titrimetry, spectrophotometry and chemiluminescence) because they are rapid, low cost and easy for automation detection. Many metal materials such as Pt, Pd, Cu and Ag have been used as electrodes for the electrochemical determination of H2O2.[1] Recently, an improvement of the catalytic activity of silver screen-printed electrodes towards H2O2 reduction after electrode modification with a mixed surfactant/salt solution has been reported.[2] The combination of dodecyl benzenesulphonic acid and KCl led to changes in both the morphology and chemical composition of the silver paste electrode surface which enhanced the reduction of H2O2 at -0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl up to 80-fold on such material.
In the present work, this phenomenon is further investigated with regard to the effect the type of metal electrode, surfactant and salt have on the reduction of H2O2. Silver paste electrodes were modified with a range of surfactants (dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, sodium dodecyl sulphate, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide, Triton X-100) and chloride salts and their ability to reduce H2O2 was evaluated. The effect of the modification on the H2O2 reduction was assessed by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) measurements were performed to characterize the electrode surfaces before and after the surfactant-based modification. In addition, the surfactant/salt modifications were performed on a range of metallic substrates such as Au, Pt and other Ag-based electrodes. Comparisons of H2O2 reduction at these electrodes are shown and the effect of their modifications is also studied.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: Electrochem 2011
• Start Date: Sep 5, 2011
• End Date: Sep 6, 2011
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: electrochemical reduction, hydrogen peroxide, surfactant, salt, electrodes
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/968460
• Publisher URL: http://www.regonline.co.uk/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=894652
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Electrochem 2011