Reduction of nitric monoxide to nitrogen at gas diffusion electrodes with Pd catalysts

Abstract

Abstract The electrochemical reduction of NO in alkaline solutions was investigated at a gas diffusion electrode with Pd catalysts at various flow rates of NO gas. Reduction currents are observed at potentials more negative than 0.95 V, increase with the decrease of potentials and decrease with decreasing the flow rate of NO gas. The current efficiencies of N 2 O formation decrease with decreasing the flow rate of NO and with the decrease of potentials. However, the current efficiencies of N 2 formation increase with decreasing the flow rate of NO and with the decrease of potentials. The reduction of NO to N 2 at the flow rate of 5 ml min −1 occurs selectively at potentials more negative than 0.1 V, i.e., the current efficiency is approximately 95%. The generation of electricity and NO decomposition can be accomplished by using an H 2 NO fuel cell reactor at the same time. The current efficiency of N 2 formation at the flow rate of 5 ml min −1 is approximately 80% at the cell voltage 0.25 V.