Anodic oxidation behaviors of methanol and benzyl alcohol at boron-doped diamond electrode

The electrochemical behaviors of methanol and benzyl alcohol on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode are examined with cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The cyclic voltammograms results suggest that the reactivity of the benzyl alcohol is more efficient than that of the methanol. The EIS technique has demonstrated that the charge-transfer resistance (R_CT) of oxidation reaction of methanol is larger than that of benzyl alcohol when the potential of the background solution is less than 0.90 V. The reaction kinetics are studied by linear scan voltammetry at various concentrations of the organic compounds (e.g. methanol and benzyl alcohol), various pHs and temperatures. The Tafel slopes and activation energies have indicated that the adsorptions of their organic molecules on the BDD electrodes are the rate-determining steps at low potential range (1.20 to 1.40 V).