A study of the electrocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexanol on copper electrode

Electrocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexanol was investigated on copper electrode in alkaline solution. The process of oxidation involved and its kinetics were established by using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry techniques as well as steady state polarization measurements. It has been found that in the course of an anodic potential sweep the electro-oxidation of cyclohexanol follows the formation of Cu (III) and is catalysed by this species through a mediated electron transfer mechanism. A mechanism based on the electrochemical generation of Cu (III) active sites and their subsequent consumption by the cyclohexanol in question was also investigated.