Voltammetric behaviour of Cu alloys toward hydrogen peroxide and organic species

Abstract

The communication reports on the electrocatalytic properties exhibited by five Cu alloys (Cu-Zn, Cu-Sn, Cu-Ni, Cu-Zn-Ni, Cu-Al) and of pure Cu, Ni and Al in the reduction or oxidation of a number of representative species. A prototypical strong oxidising agent, namely hydrogen peroxide, and some of the most important oxidisable species, namely methanol, ethanol, and formaldehyde, are tested. Both cathodic and anodic processes are facilitated by using specific alloys in the case of strong oxidants and different organic molecules, respectively.