Enhancement of the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid. Effects of anion adsorption and variation of rotation rate

Results are presented from a study on the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid. Perturbing a HCOOH + HClO4 solution by causing a small amount of any one of several different anions to be present dramatically changes observed nonlinear behavior in an apparently unique manner. Quantitative changes are also observed. In current-control experiments, the presence of fluoroborate ions causes a substantial increase in the value of the applied current density for which low valued stationary potentials remain stable. In potential-control experiments, the current density substantially increases at relevant potential values. Although most properties possessed by the fluoroborate anion exist among the other anions studied, the presence of any one of these other ions in solution yields inferior current-potential characteristics. Results from current-control experiments show that changes in rotation rates have no effect on the observed behavior regardless of anion composition or whether the limiting state is stationary or oscillating. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.