Electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen on a glassy carbon electrode modified with adsorbed cobaloxime complex

The preparation and electrochemical properties of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with cobaloxime complex were investigated. The complex of the type [CoIII(DO)(DOH)pn)Cl2] where (DO)(DOH)pn = N2,N2'-propanediylbis-2,3-butanedione-2-imine-3-oxime) was adsorbed irreversibly and strongly on the surface of preanodized glassy carbon electrode. Electrochemical behavior and stability of modified GC electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen has been studied using this modified glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry as diagnostic techniques. The modified electrode showed excellent eletrocatalytic ability for the reduction of dioxygen to hydrogen peroxide in acetate buffer (pH 4.0) with overpotential 1.0 V lower than the plain glassy carbon electrode. The formal potential for this modified electrode is not shifted to more negative potentials by repeated reduction-oxidation cycles in oxygen-saturated supporting electrolyte solution. The apparent electron transfer rate constant (kS), the transfer coefficent (alpha) and the catalytic rate constant of O2 reduction at a GC modified electrode were determined by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry and were found to be around 2.6 s(-1), 0.33 and 2.25 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1). Based on the results, a catalytic mechanism is proposed and discussed.