Electrooxidation of phenol on amorphous Ni–40Nb–(1−x)Pt–xSn alloys

The electrochemical oxidation of phenol at room temperature in aqueous solutions on amorphous Ni–40Nb–(1−x)Pt–xSn anodes has been studied. After activation in hydrofluoric acid, the alloys show a high activity for the anodic oxidation of phenol, the activity being affected by the presence of tin in the alloy and by the activation time in HF. The HF treatment leads to a platinum enrichment of the alloy surface and to an increase in the roughness of the electrode. Best results were obtained at low current densities and after long activation times in HF.