Electrochemical Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (EC-SERS) Study of C3 Polyalcohols Oxidation Catalyzed by a Ag Roughened Electrode with Low Platinum Content

This paper reports on the electrooxidation process of C3 polyalcohols on a Ag roughened electrode decorated with Pt atoms in an alkaline medium. The electrochemical results showed that molecules with vicinal OH, such as glycerol and 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PPD), had higher electrochemical activity than 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PPD). In situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to study the electrooxidation process, and it was found that the products of electrooxidation were mainly carboxylates, with selectivity toward lactate. The study highlights the potential of using an Ag&Pt electrode with low load (>1%) of Pt for the selective electrooxidation of C3 polyalcohols in an alkaline medium. The presence of Pt significantly improves the electrocatalytic activity of Ag, making the Ag&Pt electrode work in a tandem mechanism.