Catalytic activity of platinized titanium and titanium coated with ruthenium oxide in the processes of electrooxidation of ethyl alcohol in alkaline media

Abstract BACKGROUND This study investigates the catalytic activity of platinized titanium and titanium coated with ruthenium oxide in the processes of electrooxidation of ethyl alcohol in alkaline phosphate electrolyte and potassium hydroxide electrolyte in non‐flowing membraneless fuel cells proposed by the authors. In these systems, an interface between the phases formed, which played the role of a membrane. Cyclic voltammetry, pulse chronoamperometry and gas–liquid chromatography were used to study the corrosion resistance and catalytic activity of ethanol oxidation on the selected electrodes. Platinized titanium and titanium coated with ruthenium oxide, involving a thin layer of platinum or ruthenium oxide on a perforated titanium mesh, were investigated. RESULTS It is found that the oxidation of ethyl alcohol proceeds more actively on the surface of titanium coated with ruthenium oxide in alkaline phosphate electrolyte, with the formation of acetaldehyde as the main reaction product. In potassium hydroxide electrolyte, acetaldehyde and acetic acid are formed on the surface; two and four electrons are released, respectively. This indicates the C2 reaction pathway of ethanol oxidation. In contrast, the oxidation of ethyl alcohol in potassium hydroxide electrolyte proceeds more actively on the platinized titanium with the formation of acetaldehyde. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained show that titanium electrode coated with ruthenium oxide is promising in phosphate electrolyte, but platinized titanium electrode is promising in potassium hydroxide electrolyte in the proposed non‐flowing membraneless alcohol fuel cells. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).