Influence of irradiation on the selectivity of catalysts

Abstract

1. From measurements of the contact potential difference it follows that the ratio n/p (where n is the concentration of electrons, while p is the concentration of holes in the sample) increases with increasing specific radioactivity (R) of the sample. 2. From the catalytic measurements it follows that the rate of the dehydrogenation reaction increases, while the rate of the dehydration reaction drops with increasing R. 3. It was shown within the framework of the electronic theory of catalysis that the dehydrogenation reaction belongs to the class of acceptor reactions, whereas the dehydration reaction belongs to the class of donor reactions. 4. The mechanism of the influence of irradiation on the catalytic activity and selectivity of a semiconductor is reduced to a change in the relative content of electrons and holes in the semiconductor, occurring under the action of irradiation.