Building Analogies between the Thermal and Electrochemical Reactivity of Hydrogen Using Proton-Intercalating Metal Oxides

摘要

Motivated by the challenges of intermediate scaling relations, our research group is working to develop catalytic assemblies that integrate electrochemical and thermal activation to accelerate multi-step redox reactions. This presentation focuses on one approach that involves using transition metal hydrogen bronze compounds (H_xMO_y) as solid-state hydrogen sources where the hydrogen can be readily replenished via proton intercalation from water or acid equivalents. This approach enables the design of "thermo-electrochemical" reactor systems based on spatial or temporal coupling of thermal and electrochemical redox reactions. Initial modeling and experimental results will be discussed, which indicate that it is possible to execute hydrogenation reactions under conditions that would be impossible to achieve using traditional thermal hydrogenation reactors and catalysts.