Improved Catalytic Reactor for the Electrochemical Promotion of Highly Dispersed Ru Nanoparticles with CeO2 Support

Abstract

An improved design for a catalytic reactor for electrochemical promotion of highly dispersed catalysts was presented and compared to that of a plug flow-type reactor for the model reaction of ethylene oxidation. Electrochemical cells were prepared with low particle size (1.1 nm) Ru nanoparticles (RuNPs) which were supported on a mixed ionic-electronic conductor, CeO2, with a low metal loading (1 wt%), interfaced with a YSZ electrolyte. Comparable catalytic performance between the two reactors was observed for both open-circuits measurements. However, the rate enhancement ratio in the single-chamber capsule (SCC) reactor was found to be 1.6 compared to 1.4 for the plug flow-type reactor for an applied current of -5μA. These results were attributed to better electrical contact to the isolated RuNPs. Furthermore, the SCC reactor is simple to assemble and provides an intimate contact between the RuNPs/CeO2 catalyst and the current collector (i.e., gold mesh).