Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formic Acid: Closing the Gap Between Fundamental Study and Technical Applications

Abstract

Electro-catalytic oxidation of formic acid has a significant importance in fundamental research of small organic molecule oxidation, as well as practical application to fuel cells. Notwithstanding intensive research efforts for last couple of decades, there are still fundamental questions in debate on the mechanistic origin. This perspective presents underlying issues in the electro-catalytic oxidation of formic acid. Until now, the oxidation mechanism of formic acid is not fully understood in spite of its importance of this work, since the role of adsorbed formate is not clearly identified. In addition, we will discuss on the role of Bi on Pt that unambiguously enhances the activity of Pt in fuel cell systems but is in debate with single crystal Pt surface. We finally accentuate the causes of the deactivation of Pd catalysts, because the utilization of non-Pt electrocatalysts could be one of the key researches for cost reduction of fuel cell systems. Thus, we intend to introduce different views toward formic acid oxidation proposed by the other researchers and provide perspectives on the further research to close the gap between fundamental study and technical applications.