Electrocatalytic oxidation of oxalic and oxamic acids in aqueous media at carbon nanotube modified electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation of oxalic and oxamic acids on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and on monometallic (Pd and Pt) and bimetallic (Pd–Cu, Pt–Cu) catalysts supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes was investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The electrodes were prepared by dispersion of the catalytic material on Toray carbon (CT) using a Nafion/water solution. The kinetic parameters of the reactions were determined using cyclic voltammetry. Modification of Toray carbon electrode with carbon nanotubes enables the oxidation of oxalic and oxamic acids in the solvent stability region. The highest oxidation current densities were observed for the Pt–Cu/CNT/CT electrode in 0.1 M NaCl. The oxidation potentials for both oxalic and oxamic acids in this case were lower than those observed with the CNT/CT electrode. The prepared electrocatalysts show good mechanical and chemical stability.