The Influence of Platinum Electrode Surface on the Electroadsorption and Electro‐Oxidation of Methanol in Acid Solutions

The electro‐oxidation of methanol in acid solutions on a platinum electrode modified by adatom adsorption (Ag, Cu, Pb, Sn, As, and Bi) is studied. The influence of different experimental variables (electrode pretreatment, methanol concentration, anion adsorption, and temperature) is reported. Inhibiting and activating effects of adatoms on the methanol oxidation mechanism is interpreted as a blocking effect at low methanol concentrations, and an increase of coverage by adsorbed water species on platinum when . The latter is traced to an induced heterogeneity which prevents organic adsorption in the surroundings of the adsorbed foreign atom.