The influence of lead upd on the oxidation of glucose at platinum electrodes an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study

The oxidation of glucose at Pt electrodes with upd deposits of Pb in acid media has been investigated using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Glucose alone has a small effect on the mass response but changes in upd Pb coverage have a large effect. This allows changes in upd Pb coverage to be followed easily despite the fact that the associated current is largely obscured in the cyclic voltammogram. Cyclic voltammetry at low glucose concentrations shows a multiple peak structure in the double layer region of potential at low upd coverages that is charged to the more familiar single peak as upd coverage increases. Mass responses also reveal some blockage of Pb upd by glucose or species derived from it during cyclic voltammetry. Data from mass transients show that the deliberate formation of poisons prior to addition of Pb²⁺ ions to the electrolyte results in a substantial suppression of upd coverage especially between −0.1 and 0.1 V (sce). Finally, mass transients accompanying injections of Pb²⁺ in the presence of glucose in the electrolyte reveal the suppression of adsorption of Pb²⁺ cations on an oxidised Pt surface by species derived from glucose.