Reduction Mechanism of Chemisorbed Oxygen on Platinum Electrodes by Molecular Hydrogen

Abstract

Chemisorbed oxygen on platinum electrodes is reduced at open circuit in electrolytes in the presence of molecular hydrogen. It is shown that the rate of the chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen and the oxygen layer is small. The reduction occurs mainly by an electrochemical mechanism. The electrode is the seat of an anodic and a cathodic reaction. The anodic current of hydrogen dissolution on free sites is equal to the cathodic reduction current on the layer.