Effect of temperature on CO and ethanol oxidation in alkaline and acidic media

The temperature dependence of CO and ethanol oxidation was investigated in sulfuric acid and in KOH solution to simulate proton exchange membrane and alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell conditions. For the CO oxidation, in both the acidic and the alkaline environment an increase of the oxidation currents in a second oxidation wave at potentials above 1 V vs. RHE is observed. For the ethanol oxidation the expected Arrhenius type of behavior is observed in the acidic environment. In the alkaline environment a decrease of current density with temperature is observed under potentiostatic conditions.