Hydrogen catalytic currents in solutions of molybdenum complexes with 8-hydroxyquinoline

To clarify the possibility of manifestation of catalytic effect of Mo(6) complex with 8-hydroxyquinoline in electrochemical hydrogen evolution the polarographic behaviour of the given complex is studied. During Mo(6) electroreduction on a mercury-dropping electrode in the presence of 8-hydroxyquinoline at the background of 2x10-3 M HCl in the range of potentials -1.1--1.15 V the catalytic wave of hydrogen is observed. Catalytic current reaches the maximum value in pH range 2.4-2.8 and it is in a linear dependence on Mo(6) concentration in the concentration range 10-7-2x10-8 mol/l. Catalytic effect is caused by protonation of Mo(6) complex with 8-hydroxyquinoline, adsorbed on the electrode. Adsorption of Mo(6) complex plays the most important role in the catalytic process, which promotes considerable excess of catalytic current as compared with diffusional one