Electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide on stainless steel

Electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide is studied on a sand-blasted stainless steel (SSS) electrode in an aqueous solution of NaClO4. The cyclic voltammetric reduction of H2O2 at low concentrations is characterized by a cathodic peak at -0 center dot 40 V versus standard calomel electrode (SCE). Cyclic voltammetry is studied by varying the concentration of H2O2 in the range from 0 center dot 2 mM to 20 mM and the sweep rate in the range from 2 to 100 mV s(-1). Voltammograms at concentrations of H2O2 higher than 2 mM or at high sweep rates consist of an additional current peak, which may be due to the reduction of adsorbed species formed during the reduction of H2O2. Amperometric determination of H2O2 at -0 center dot 50 V vs SCE provides the detection limit of 5 A mu M H2O2. A plot of current density versus concentration has two segments suggesting a change in the mechanism of H2O2 reduction at concentrations of H2O2 a parts per thousand yen 2 mM. From the rotating disc electrode study, diffusion co-efficient of H2O2 and rate constant for reduction of H2O2 are evaluated.