Positive temperature feedback loop in the catalytic cycle of heterogeneous catalysis

Abstract

The mechanism of heterogeneous catalysis taking into account the influence of temperature is briefly considered in the development of the concept "electron as a catalyst". Here the catalytic cycle includes the heat transfer and electron generation besides the mass transfer. The mechanism of temperature influence in heterogeneous catalysis is realised through the generation of electrons in a positive feedback loop. This mechanism involves the Edison and Seebeck thermoelectronic effects. The catalytic cycle of heterogeneous catalysis is supplemented with a thermoelectronic stage. The thermoelectronic stage of catalysis involves heat transfer and electron generation. Energy transfer to the active centre of the catalyst is an integral part of the catalytic cycle. Energy transfer is considered as a positive temperature feedback loop. The generation of electrons in the positive feedback loop and their transfer to the reactants leads to an increase in reactivity of the reactants. The positive temperature feedback loop leads to an exponential (sigmoidal) dependence of the reaction rate.