Electrooxidation of C1 to C3 alcohols with Pt and Pt–Ru sputter deposited interdigitated array electrodes

The electrooxidation of methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol was investigated with interdigitated array electrodes (IDAEs). The IDAE oxidizes alcohol at the generator and reduces the reaction intermediates produced by the oxidation process at the collector. Thus, the reaction intermediates can be estimated with the IDAE. The IDAE in the present work was made of sputter deposited Pt and Pt–Ru. The use of Ru free and added electrodes provides information on the effect of Ru addition on the alcohol oxidation. Cyclic voltammetric analyses revealed that Ru addition enhances the oxidation currents and reduces the Eonset of the alcohols. The detectable reaction intermediate at the methanol and ethanol oxidation was proton, while the intermediate species was acetone in 2-propnaol oxidation.