Structural effects in electrocatalysis: oxidation of formaldehyde on gold and platinum single crystal electrodes in alkaline solution

The oxidation of formaldehyde in sodium hydroxide solution has been studied on platinum and gold single crystal electrodes with the (111), (110) and (100) orientations. There is apparently no structural sensitivity of this reaction, since minor differences have been found between the three low index faces. This is valid for both platinum and gold electrodes. The hydrogen adsorption on platinum and the AuOH formation on gold electrodes exhibit structural sensitivity in the same solution. Similar activity of platinum and gold electrodes is noteworthy. A weak adsorption of gem-diol, formed in the interaction of formaldehyde with H2O or OH- appears as the origin of the structural insensitivity of this reaction