Electrochemical promotion in O2− cells during propane oxidation

Abstract

The catalytic oxidation of propane was studied in an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte cell at 623–773 K and atmospheric total pressure. Three catalyst-electrodes were tested, Pt, Pd and Ag. Under open circuit, the technique of Solid Electrolyte Potentiometry (SEP) was used to monitor the thermodynamic activity of oxygen adsorbed on the catalyst surface during reaction. Under closed circuit, the effect of electrochemical promotion was investigated. On Pt and Pd, the promoting effect was of the “inverted volcano” type. On Pt, the reaction exhibited a strong NEMCA effect; the closed circuit rate exceeded the open circuit rate by more than three orders of magnitude. On Pd, on the other hand, the effect was hardly Faradaic. On Ag, a moderate NEMCA behavior was observed and the promoting effect was purely electrophobic. Both open and closed circuit results obtained with these three catalyst-electrodes, are evaluated and compared to each other.