A supercooled disk electrode is fabricated, around which the temperature of aqueous solution is below its normal freezing point. The supercooled electrode demonstrates thermal stability and its surface temperature can be adjusted by changing an additional heating current. Theoretical simulation shows that the supercooled region is restricted within a small volume around the disk electrode. The electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c was investigated at supercooled electrode for the first time.

In this paper, in situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIRS) is used to study the electro-catalytic oxidation mechanism of shikimic acid (SA) at a copper electrode in H2O and D2O solution, respectively. As the potential is applied between 0.1 V and 0.2 V vs. SCE, SA is oxidized to 3-dehydroshikimic acid (DHS). Then a significant change appeared when the potential is scanned from 0.3 V to 0.8 V, DHS is decomposed to transaconitate and formate. As the potential is over 0.9 V, formate is further oxidized to CO2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation of the IR spectra is in good agreement with the experimental observation. The adsorption of transaconitate through carboxyl on copper electrode is also evidenced by p- and s-polarized radiation in FTIRS.