Evaluation of titanium dioxide and cerium oxide as anodes for the electrooxidation of toluene: A theoretical approach of the electrode process

Cerium oxide and titanium dioxide were prepared by thermal decomposition of the precursor salts and thermal treatment of titanium plates. In aqueous medium, the metal oxides show a well-defined electrochemical reaction; a solid state redox process takes place in the cathodic range of potentials and only water discharge reaction occurs in the anodic region. At the experimental conditions, the prepared materials were not totally active for the electrooxidation of toluene. The theoretical modeling suggests that the lack of activity is due to the weak interaction between toluene and the metal oxide surface.