Electrocatalyst surfaces. Final report, December 1986-November 1989

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6620379

Hubbard, A T

Hydrocarbon reaction intermediates adsorbed at metallic catalyst surfaces have been identified and quantitated by means of new surface spectroscopic and electrochemical methods, including electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), Auger spectroscopy, surface infrared spectroscopy (IR), electron diffraction (LEED) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Investigated were catalyst surface structure, hydrocarbon molecular structure, modes of surface chemical bonding of adsorbed intermediates, and electrochemical oxidation of these intermediates as a function of the nature of the hydrocarbon solvent electrolyte, pH, temperature, catalyst elements and adsorbable additives. Breakthroughs accomplished in the research include: (i) first studies of hydrocarbon adsorbed intermediates at electrocatalyst surfaces by means of very definitive EELS vibrational spectra; (ii) first determinations of elemental analysis, purity, surface abundance and molecular orientation of intermediates by Auger spectroscopy; (iii) advances in surface IR spectroscopy permitting vibrational characterization of intermediates at high pressure; and (iv) voltammetric studies revealing the nature of electrochemical reactions occurring at specific locations in an adsorbed molecule.

• Research Organization: Cincinnati Univ., OH (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
• OSTI ID: 6620379
• Report Number(s): PB-90-252560/XAB; CNN: GRI-5086-260-1404
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ADDITIVES
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL BONDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIFFRACTION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY
FUEL CELLS
HYDROCARBON FUEL CELLS
HYDROCARBONS
INFRARED SPECTRA
MICROSTRUCTURE
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIENTATION
OXIDATION
PH VALUE
PROGRESS REPORT
REACTION INTERMEDIATES
SCATTERING
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VOLTAMETRY