Nanoporous TiO2 film electrode for electrocatalytic reduction of 2-pyridineethanol in ionic liquids

Nanoporous TiO2 having enhanced surface area was synthesized by sol-gel method. On the nanoporous TiO2 film electrode, electrocatalytic reduction of the 2-pyridineethanol in the ionic liquid electrolyte of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMI]BF4) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was found that the indirect electroreduction of 2-pyridineethanol produced 2-piperidinoethanol by Ti(IV)/Ti(III) redox system on the nanoporous TiO2 film surface. The current of cathodic reduction peak increased along with the increase of reactant concentration. The electrode reaction mechanism is called catalytic (EC') mechanism.