Stephenson Institute Seminar - Formic acid electrooxidation and the structure of ionic solvation shells: An analysis based on in-situ ATR-SEIRAS - Dr Angel Cuesta (University of Aberdeen)
10:00am - 11:00am /
Tuesday 22nd March 2016
/ Venue: SIRE Seminar Room Chadwick Building
Type: Seminar /
Category: Research
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The results of recent work regarding the mechanism of the electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid using ATR-SEIRAS will be critically reviewed, particularly regarding the role of adsorbed formate. Both the mechanism of the catalytic dehydration of formic acid on Pt to adsorbed carbon monoxide, as well as that of the so-called direct pathway will be analysed. The analysis will be based on (i) in-situ spectrokinetic experiments of the dependence of the rate of formation of CO and CO2 on the formate coverage, (ii) on studies of the dependence of the electroctalytic activity of Pt on the pH of the solution, and (iii) on the size of the minimum atomic ensemble necessary for the reactions to proceed.
We will also report on the use of electrochemical ATR-SEIRAS to study the structure of the solvation shell of some simple cations, a new research line in our group which emerged from some side results during experiments aimed at studying electrocatalytic reactions.
We will also report on the use of electrochemical ATR-SEIRAS to study the structure of the solvation shell of some simple cations, a new research line in our group which emerged from some side results during experiments aimed at studying electrocatalytic reactions.