Enhanced electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide on silver paste electrodes modified with surfactant and salt

The modification of silver paste electrodes with a combination of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and KCl has been shown to lead to significant enhancements of the electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The catalytic enhancement was shown to be dependent on the concentration of the surfactant/salt solution, which resulted in increases of some 80-fold in amperometric response to hydrogen peroxide at −0.1 V vs Ag/AgCl, pH 6.8 over unmodified silver paste. Physical analysis showed modifications to both the surface morphology and chemical composition of the silver paste electrode surface. However, BET and electrochemical analysis revealed no significant change in surface area. It is suggested that the enhanced catalysis may result from the formation of stabilised surfactant/salt structures at the metal electrode surface. The electrode was also shown to be suitable for the amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide with a limit of detection of 1.1 × 10−6 M (S/N = 3).

Research highlights
► Silver paste electrodes were modified with a combination of surfactant and salt.
► This led to significant enhancements in the electroreduction of hydrogen peroxide.
► No significant change in electrode surface area was observed.
► Catalysis may result from stabilised surfactant/salt structures at the electrode.
► The catalyst was suitable for the detection of hydrogen peroxide to 10−6 M.