ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF SOME ORGANIC MOLECULES AT MODIFIED ELECTRODES

Abstract

Traditional non-renewable energy suffers the accelerating consumption and the world is in an ever-urgent need for innovative solutions for a green power source. Glucose based fuel cells are a promising solution. However, the electrooxidation of glucose is a sluggish one and obtained only at a considerable overpotential at precious metals. In addition, the electrode suffers poisoning from the oxidation products. Thus, replacing the precious metal with a cheap one and/or decreasing the cost using deposition of nanoparticles with exceptional catalytic properties might be a good solution.

Catalytic properties of metal and metal oxides nanoparticles depend extensively on the morphology and the crystallographic orientation of such catalyst, in addition to the underlying substrate which could enlarges the useful use of the deposited nanoparticles and enhances the adsorption properties of glucose. In this work the fabrication of a metal nanoparticles and/or metal oxides nanoparticles on a suitable underlying substrate aiming at a superior electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose at those modified electrodes are introduced. A suitable underlying substrate, like glassy carbon electrodes, with its extraordinary high conductivity, specific surface area and chemical inertness could serve as an optimum underlying substrate for metal and metal oxides nanoparticles, especially if it is specifically functionalized with some groups that