Modelling temporal kinetic oscillations for electrochemical oxidation of formic acid on Pt

A model is presented which suitably reproduces the observed kinetic potential oscillations for the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid on Pt. Coupled ordinary differential equations are formulated concerning three variables: the electrode potential and the amounts of adsorbed water and carbon monoxide. Two points prove to be essential in this model to an obtain oscillation behavior similar to the observed behavior: the interaction between the two adsorbed species increases with the electrode potential and the saturation surface coverage of the adsorbed carbon monoxide is less than 1. These two points are consistent with experimental observations.