Hydrogen peroxide reduction on amalgamated platinum electrodes covered with a monolayer of stearic acid

The reduction of hydrogen peroxide and, for comparison, oxygen on an amalgamated platinum electrode covered with a monolayer of stearic acid is studied by methods of polarization curves and impedance spectroscopy. In contrast with the oxygen reduction, the reduction of dissolved hydrogen peroxide occurs predominantly on the monolayer surface, rather than inside it. This is explained by the difficulty of penetration of the polar molecule of hydrogen peroxide into hydrocarbon environment.