ELECTROCHEMICAL PROMOTION OF IRO2 CATALYST FOR THE GAS-PHASE COMBUSTION OF ETHYLENE

The catalytic activity of IrO2 catalyst films for the gas phase combus tion of ethylene can be increased by up to a factor of 10 via anodic p olarization of the IrO2 catalyst relative to a Au electrode both depos ited on Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 solid electrolyte. The steady-state incre ase in the catalytic reaction rate is typically 200 higher than the ex pected rate increase of ethylene combustion calculated from Faraday's law. This is the first demonstration of the effect of non-faradaic ele ctrochemical modification of catalytic activity (NEMCA) using a metal oxide catalyst.