NON-FARADAIC ELECTROCHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF CATALYTIC ACTIVITY.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100329a007

It was found that catalytic activity and selectivity of metal catalysts can be altered dramatically and in a reversible manner. This is accomplished by electrochemically supplying oxygen anions onto catalytic surfaces via polarized solid electrolyte cells. Oxygen anions, forced electrochemically to adsorb on the catalyst surface, alter the catalyst work function in a predictable way and lead to reaction rate increases of the order of 1500 percent. Changes in catalytic reaction rates typically exceed the rate of O**2** minus transport to or from the catalyst surface by 10**2-10**4. The case of several catalytic reactions in which this new phenomenon has been observed is discussed.