Electrochemical promotion of IrO_2 catalyst activity for the gas phase combustion of ethylene

摘要

The catalytic activity for the gas phase combustion of ethylene of an IrO_2 film, used as electrode in solid electrolyte cell. can be increased by polarizing the metal-solid electrolyte interface. The catalytic activity remains higher even after current interruption. To explain the increase in the open circuit rate after polarization we speculate that the IrO_2 catalyst is oxidized at the catalyst-solid electrolyte interface, forming IrO_(2+δ), which is transported by surface and/or bulk diffusion to the gas exposed catalyst, thus modifying its catalytic activity.