Some approaches to the adsorption of formic acid on a smooth platinum electrode in acid medium

The adsorption of formic acid was investigated by voltammetric methods for different formic acid concentrations and potentials, in order to gain information on the possible role of adsorbed species in the irreversible electrooxidation pathways. Reversible potential-induced spectral changes of the adsorbates formed by chemisorption of formic acid were investigated by electrochemically modulated infrared reflectance spectroscopy. At low HCOOH concentrations, the adsorbed species has a reductive form in the hydrogen adsorption region. As the HCOOH concentration increases, N_eps decreases. Therefore, an oxidation mechanism is proposed as a function of HCOOH concentration and adsorption potentials.