Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Solid electrochemical mass spectrometry (SEMS) for investigation of supported metal catalysts under high vacuum

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new experimental set-up, coupling electrochemistry and mass spectroscopic techniques, for the investigation of a solid electrochemical cell under high vacuum conditions (HV) is presented. Two configurations are realized allowing the investigation of both the electrochemical and electrocatalytical behavior of a thin Pt layer on yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ). We can readily select the atmosphere down to 10−6 Pa partial pressure and determine the response of the system in less than 1 s. Under HV conditions, YSZ appears electrochemically active and we have identified, in the cathodic potential domain, the reduction/oxidation process of zirconia and in the anodic domain, the platinum oxidation/reduction and the oxygen evolution reactions. In a catalytic active gas mixture, despite the Faradaic enhancement of the CO oxidation observed over Pt/YSZ during an anodic polarization, an intriguing sustainable enhanced Pt/YSZ catalyst activity is achieved after current interruption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Williams FJ, Palermo A, Tikhov MS, Lambert RM (2000) J Phys Chem B 104:615

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Williams FJ, Palermo A, Tikhov MS, Lambert RM (2001) Surf Sci 482–485:177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Luerßen B, Janek J, Imbihl R (2001) Solid State Ionics 141–142:701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Luerßen B, Gunther S, Marbach H, Kiskinova M, Janek J, Imbihl R (2000) Chem Phys Lett 316:331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Imbihl R, Janek J (2000) Solid State Ionics 136–137:699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Poppe J, Völkening S, Schaak A, Janek J, Imbihl R (2000) Phys Chem Chem Phys 1:5241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Janek J, Luerßen B, Imbihl R, Rohnke M (2000) Phys Chem Chem Phys 2:1935

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vayenas CG, Bebelis S, Pliangos C, Brosda S, Tsiplakides D (2001) Electrochemical activation of catalysis: promotion, electrochemical promotion, and metal-support interactions. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  9. Neophytides SG, Vayenas CG (1995) J Phys Chem 99:17063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Katsaounis A, Nikopoulou Z, Verykios XE, Vayenas CG (2004) J Catal 222:192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Katsaounis A, Nikopoulou Z, Verykios XE, Vayenas CG (2004) J Catal 226:197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Anastasijevic NA, Baltruschat H, Heitbaum J (1989) J Electroanal Chem 272:89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Baltruschat H (2004) J Am Soc Mass Spec 15:1693

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jaccoud A, Foti G, Comninellis C (2006) Electrochim Acta 51:1264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Foti G, Jaccoud A, Falgairette C, Comninellis C (2009) J Electroceram 23:175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jaccoud A, Falgairette C, Foti G, Comninellis C (2007) Electrochim Acta 52:7927

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Falgairette C, Jaccoud A, Foti G, Comninellis C (2008) J Appl Electrochem 38:1075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Judai K, Abbet S, Woerz A, Roettgen M, Heiz U (2003) Int J Mass Spectrom 229:99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Valloton R (2009) Thesis n°4365, EPFL. http://library.epfl.ch/theses/?nr=4365

  20. Hoffman DM, Singh B, Thomas JH III (eds) (1998) Handbook of vacuum science and technology. Academic Press, New York

  21. Foti G, Stankovic V, Bolzonella I, Comninellis C (2002) J Electroanal Chem 532:191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Falgairette C, Xia C, Li YD, Harbich W, Foti G, Comninellis C (2010) J App Electrochem. doi:10.1007/s10800-010-0160-4

Download references

Acknowledgement

Financial support from the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Cyril Falgairette, Chun Xia & Christos Comninellis

  2. Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Chun Xia & Wolfgang Harbich

  3. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Applied Catalysis Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Chun Xia & YongDan Li

Authors
  1. Cyril Falgairette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chun Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. YongDan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wolfgang Harbich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Christos Comninellis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cyril Falgairette.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Falgairette, C., Xia, C., Li, Y. et al. Solid electrochemical mass spectrometry (SEMS) for investigation of supported metal catalysts under high vacuum. J Appl Electrochem 40, 1893–1900 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-010-0159-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-010-0159-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation