Online Monitoring of Electrochemical Carbon Corrosion in Alkaline Electrolytes by Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry

Carbon corrosion at high anodic potentials is a major source of instability, especially in acidic electrolytes and impairs the long‐term functionality of electrodes. In‐depth investigation of carbon corrosion in alkaline environment by means of differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) is prevented by the conversion of CO₂ into CO₃^2?. We report the adaptation of a DEMS system for online CO₂ detection as the product of carbon corrosion in alkaline electrolytes. A new cell design allows for in situ acidification of the electrolyte to release initially dissolved CO₃^2? as CO₂ in front of the DEMS membrane and its subsequent detection by mass spectrometry. DEMS studies of a carbon‐supported nickel boride (Ni_xB/C) catalyst and Vulcan XC 72 at high anodic potentials suggest protection of carbon in the presence of highly active oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. Most importantly, carbon corrosion is decreased in alkaline solution.     

“On line” mass spectrometric detection of ammonia oxidation products generated by polypyrrole based amperometric sensors

Polypyrrole (PPy) is the conducting polymer most widely employed in electrochemical sensors for ammonia detection in the last decade. Although sensors have been described in depth in the literature, the mechanism of ammonia detection by polypyrrole is still a matter of controversy. The differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) technique, together with UV-Vis spectroscopy, gives direct and conclusive evidence with respect to the ammonia oxidation products formed in NaOH solution (pH=10) at polyrrole or N-methyl polypyrrole film sensors polarized at 0.35 V (Ag/AgCl). Monitoring of the different possible ammonia oxidation products by on-line DEMS measurements indicates that only NO is formed and that other species such as N₂ or N₂O are absent. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy also showed that ionic products such as nitrate or nitrite are not formed.     

Pt-Mo电极上CO、甲醛和甲醇的电催化氧化-微分电化学质谱研究

利用微分电化学质谱（DEMS）研究了Mo修饰的Pt电极上CO、甲醛和甲醇的电催 化氧化,证实了Mo(IV)是催化活性样品,而且它只对弱吸附CO的氧化起催化作用, 对强吸附CO的氧化没有催化活性。在低于0.4 V的电位下,吸附在Pt电极上的Mo结 甲醇和甲醛的催化氧化是通过弱吸附CO的氧化路径进行的。     

Zirconium Oxycarbide: A Highly Stable Catalyst Material for Electrochemical Energy Conversion

Metal carbides and oxycarbides have recently gained considerable interest due to their (electro)catalytic properties that differ from those of transition metals and that have potential to outperform them as well. The stability of zirconium oxycarbide nanopowders (ZrO_0.31C_0.69), synthesized via a hybrid solid-liquid route, is investigated in different gas atmospheres from room temperature to 800 °C by using in-situ X-ray diffraction and in-situ electrical impedance spectroscopy. To feature the properties of a structurally stable Zr oxycarbide with high oxygen content, a stoichiometry of ZrO_0.31C_0.69 has been selected. ZrO_0.31C_0.69 is stable in reducing gases with only minor amounts of tetragonal ZrO₂ being formed at high temperatures, whereas it decomposes in CO₂ and O₂ gas atmosphere. From online differential electrochemical mass spectrometry measurements, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) onset potential is determined at −0.4 V_RHE. CO₂ formation is detected at potentials as positive as 1.9 V_RHE as ZrO_0.31C_0.69 decomposition product, and oxygen is anodically formed at 2.5 V_RHE, which shows the high electrochemical stability of this material in acidic electrolyte. This peopwery makes the material suited for electrocatalytic reactions at anodic potentials, such as CO and alcohol oxidation reactions, in general.     

On the effect of tungsten on CO oxidation at Pt electrodes

The co-catalytic effect of W on the oxidation of CO and methanol is investigated by using differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). DEMS reveals that CO oxidation starts at 120 mV, overlapping with W oxidation. The action of W consists in shifting the pre-peak from 450 mV (as observed on pure Pt) to 200 mV. In this shifted pre-peak only 2% of the total adsorbed CO is oxidized independently from the W coverage, as compared to 10% on pure Pt. A correlation between the surface coverage of W as determined by XPS with the W oxidation peak charge in cyclic voltammetry suggests that the oxidation is a six-electron process.Dedicated to Prof. Wolf Vielstich on the occasion of his 80th birthday in recognition of his numerous contributions to interfacial electrochemistry.     

研究甲酸在多孔Pt上吸附质的性质以及它与CO的相互作用

应用现场红外反射光谱和微分电化学质谱研究了甲到在多孔Ｐｔ上吸附质的性质。伏安结果显示了甲酸在多孔Ｐｔ上吸附质的氧经与吸附电位和吸附时间有关。在线质谱结果表明从甲酸吸附质氧化成二氧化碳所需要的电子数（ｎｅ）与吸附电位无关。显著地ｎｅ＝２．２说明了甲酸吸附质是由ＣＯ和ＣＯＨ组成，而不是只有单一的ＣＯ或者ＣＯＨ，另一方面，在１２６２ｃｍ＾－１和２０４８ｃｍ＾－１出现的现场红外光谱带证实了甲酸在多孔Ｐｔ上     

Electrochemically induced mineralization of organics by molecular oxygen on boron-doped diamond electrode

The complete mineralization of organic pollutants present in wastewater is usually achieved via thermally activated oxygen/air. This process occurs at high temperatures and pressures (300 °C, 200 atm) and often gives small amount of acetic acid as a final product. In this work, we demonstrate using acetic acid as a model compound that organic molecules can be activated electrochemically such that they react at room temperature with oxygen, resulting in mineralization of even acetic acid present in 1 M HClO₄ supporting electrolyte. This electrochemically induced activation occurs during anodic polarization of boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDD) in air/oxygen-saturated solutions. The direct evidence for this process was found during electro-oxidation of acetic acid saturated with isotopically labelled ¹⁸O₂ resulting in evolution of C¹⁸O₂ and C¹⁶O¹⁸O. We suggest that the mechanism of activation on BDD is initiated by hydroxyl radicals formed on the electrode surface.     

DEMS study on the nature of acetaldehyde adsorbates at Pt and Pd by isotopic labelling

The formation of acetaldehyde adsorbates on Pt and Pd has been studied applying cyclic voltammetry and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). The adspecies were isolated on the metal surface at selected adsorption potentials (E _ad) applying a flow cell procedure under potential control, and the anodic stripping were performed for each E _ad. For Pt, two different contributions were established during oxidation: one at E < 0.80 V and the second in the range 0.80–1.50 V in the Pt oxide region. For Pd, the voltammetric profile resembles that for the oxidation of adsorbed CO. DEMS experiments have shown that CO₂ was the sole electro-oxidation product in both cases. The oxidation of each C atom in acetaldehyde adsorbates has been distinguished using the isotopic-labelled aldehyde in DEMS experiments at selected E _ad. It was observed that, on Pt, acetaldehyde molecules loose part of the CH₃ groups during adsorption at E _ad < 0.40 V, whereas the CHO groups are easily oxidized at E _ad > 0.40 V. Therefore, both C₁ and C₂ species are present on the surface, and their yields depend on E _ad. On the contrary, on Pd, most of the CH₃ groups are lost during adsorption at all E _ad, and the main adsorbed species seems to be CO_ad. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Teresa Iwasita on the occasion of her 65th birthday in recognition of her numerous contributions to interfacial electrochemistry.     

Ammonia oxidation on electrodeposited Pt–Ir alloys

Ammonia electro-oxidation on Pt–Ir alloys has been studied applying cyclic voltammetry and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), and the results were compared with pure Pt. Bimetallic alloys were prepared by electrodeposition and characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Auger spectroscopy, before and after oxidation of ammonia. Pt/Ir atomic composition was 70:30 obtained from 1:1 solutions. Substitution alloys were established where Ir atoms replace Pt positions in the face-centered cubic structure. Preferential crystal orientations were detected in the electrodeposits with the development of a crystallographic texture. DEMS showed that N₂ is the main product during ammonia oxidation for both Pt and Pt–Ir, but the formation of nitrogen oxides is observed for E > 0.8 V_RHE. The yield of N₂ is higher for the alloy, which also displays lower poisoning of the surface when increasing ammonia concentration. These results confirm Pt–Ir alloys as alternatives to Pt electrodes concerning ammonia oxidation. Finally, it was observed that XRD patterns, as well as texture coefficient values, change after using the electrodeposits for ammonia oxidation, with the less compact planes the more affected ones. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Teresa Iwasita on the occasion of her 65th birthday in recognition of her numerous contributions to interfacial electrochemistry.