Abstract: The precursor Ti(OEt)4 was prepared by anodic dissolution of metallic titanium in absolute ethanol and directly hydrolyzed to prepare nanocrystalline TiO2-carbon nanotube(nanoTiO2-CNT) complex film by a sol-gel process. Redox behavior and electrocatalytic activities of the nanoTiO2-CNT complex film electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and bulk electrolysis in DMF solution. It was found that there were two pairs of well-defined redox peaks for nanoTiO2-CNT complex film electrode with Er1/2 of －1.27 V and －2.44 V(vs SCE) at 100 mV•s-1 in correspondence with TiO2/Ti2O3 reversible and TiO2/Ti(OH)3 quasi-reversible electrode process, and the heterogeneous electrocatalytic reduction activities of TiO2/Ti(OH)3 redox system for furfural; The indirect electroreduction of furfural to furfural alcohol by Ti(IV)/Ti(III) redox system on nanoTiO2-CNT complex film surface in DMF. The electrode reaction mechanism is the called catalytic (EC′) mechanism.

Key words: Furfural, Electrocatalytic reduction, Furfural alcohol, Nanocrystalline TiO2, Carbon nanotube, Complex film electrode