Electrochemical promotion of CH4 oxidation on Pd nanoparticles, Pd/Co3O4 and Pd/MnO2 nanodispersed catalysts deposited on O2- conductors (YSZ, CGO)

Studies of CH4 oxidation are of special interest due to the difficulty in activating this particular hydrocarbon, to the demand of an active catalyst at low temperatures (T50 at 300oC) as well as due to possible deactivation of the catalyst upon exposure at higher temperatures. To address these issues, we have used Electrochemical Promotion of Catalysis (EPOC) which was discovered in the early 80's and has been studied for more than 100 catalytic systems. EPOC allows the controlled enhancement of the catalytic activity by potential or small current application between a catalyst (working electrode) supported on a solid electrolyte and an auxiliary electrode. In this study, the use of Pd nanoparticles (2-4 nm) as well as the use of nanodispersed Pd/Co3O4 and Pd/MnO2 catalysts deposited on O2- conductors (YSZ and CGO) is described. The aim is to demonstrate the feasibility of EPOC with nanodispersed catalysts and to enhance the reaction rate at temperatures lower than those that have been observed in previous studies.