Electroreduction of aprotic bipolar solvents on a copper oxide electrode

Electroreduction of aprotic dipole solvents (ADS) is studied on stainless steel, nickel, copper, and copper oxide. All the solvents undergo cathodic reduction on metallic electrodes (stainless steel, nickel, copper). The electrode material and the nature of ADS affect the shape of chronopotentiograms and electroreduction of solvents. The least and the maximum electrochemical activities are displayed by sulfolane and tetrahydrofuran, respectively The reduction of components of the electrolyte system (solvents and water) during the discharge of a copper-oxide electrode increases electrochemical capacity of a compact electrode by 20-60% and that of a porous electrode, by 10-30%. The depth of electroreduction of solvents is presumably determined by their reactivities and by electrode's properties.