Electrochemical Promotion of Catalysis mechanistic studies utilizing isotopical labeling
Résumé
Electrochemical promotion of catalysis (EPOC) is a very promising concept for boosting catalytic processes and advancing the frontiers of catalysis. EPOC utilizes electrochemical catalysts which are composed of catalytic films interfaced on solid electrolyte membranes. Ions contained in these electrolytes are electrochemically supplied onto the catalyst surface and act as promoting agents to modify the catalyst electronic properties. This study presents, for the first time, an operando investigation of the EPOC mechanism by using isotopic oxygen. Propane and propene combustion were implemented on Pt/YSZ electrochemical catalysts because these two reactions exhibit opposite behaviors upon applied overpotentials. Propane oxidation exhibits an electrophobic enhancement (reaction increases upon positive polarization of the catalyst-electrode) while propene oxidation is electrophilic.