Solid electrolyte potentiometry aided study of reactions on oxidic catalysts - results and perspectives

Combined kinetic and potentiometric measurements have been used in the inve stigation of partial oxidations of organic compounds on oxidic catalysts of increasing complexity. The response of the catalyst to variations of the g as phase composition consists of abrupt phase transitions in the case of pr opene oxidation on copper oxides and to the existence of a large 'concentra tion window' in the case of acrolein oxidation on a multicomponent oxide wh ere the oxidation state of the catalyst is kept constant at values favourab le for high selectivity. Solid electrolyte potentiometry is shown to be an excellent tool to probe in situ the oxidation state of catalysts under work ing conditions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.