The photo‐Kolbe reaction (electro‐oxidation of acetate) on TiO 2 in aqueous solution has been studied by means of a rotating ring‐disk electrode (RRDE) with a TiO 2 disk and Pt ring. The oxidation of acetate competes very efficiently with water for photogenerated holes on the illuminated n ‐ TiO 2 disk as shown by a decrease in the collection efficiency for oxygen reduction. No oxidation product of acetate was detected on the ring. Competitive oxidation of iodide with acetate and water was also investigated. Equations for determining relative rate constants for competitive reactions are derived and the applicability of the RRDE in studying such systems discussed.
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Hirano et al. (1980) studied this question.