In the present communication,the electrooxidation of trioxane(1,3,5-trioxane) was studied as a new fuel for direct-oxidation-type fuel cells. Direct-oxidation-type fuel cells have attracted much attention in recent years for the potential application as portable power sources;it can convert energy directly to electrical energy with high efficiency and low emission of pollution.Trioxane is a solid and favors the logistics of safe transportation as a fuel.The electro-oxidation and electro-sorption characteristics of this fuel at platinum electrode were investigated with electrochemical methods. The cyclic voltammetric result suggests that the electro-oxidation processes occur via chemisorption steps followed by surface reactions of adsorbed intermediates.The rate of electro-oxidation changed with the change of concentration of trioxane,acidity and temperature.The electro-oxidation of trioxane is carried out by an acid-catalyzed hydrolysis step in sulfuric acid solutions.
