Application: CO₂ Reduction.
Instrument: HPR-40 DEMS.
Cell: ECL-Insight.
Configuration: Ag and Cu catalysts deposited directly onto the PTFE membrane.
Key Capabilities: Quantative DEMS, calibration, real-time analysis, interfacial measurements, multi-product detection.
Understanding the chemical environment immediately adjacent to an electrocatalyst is essential for developing more selective CO₂ reduction catalysts, yet conventional techniques typically analyse products only after they have left the electrode surface. In this landmark study, the Hiden HPR-40 DEMS fitted with the ECL-Insight electrochemical cell was used to sample dissolved gases and volatile reaction products directly at the catalyst/electrolyte interface. Silver and copper catalysts were deposited directly onto the PTFE membrane, minimising transport delays and enabling rapid, real-time detection of reaction products during cyclic voltammetry.
The DEMS system was calibrated to provide quantitative measurements of CO₂, H₂ and multiple CO₂ reduction products, with excellent agreement to conventional gas chromatography. The fast response of the membrane inlet also enabled product formation to be monitored during potential sweeps, revealing significant depletion of CO₂ at the catalyst surface that could not be observed using bulk electrolyte measurements. Up to nine volatile products were detected simultaneously on copper electrodes, providing valuable insight into reaction pathways and intermediate formation.
This paper is one of the strongest demonstrations of the HPR-40 DEMS for quantitative, real-time analysis of the local electrochemical reaction environment, illustrating how membrane inlet mass spectrometry can reveal catalyst behaviour that is inaccessible using conventional analytical techniques.
Why read this paper?
A landmark demonstration of quantitative DEMS for investigating the local reaction environment during CO₂ reduction.
Paper Reference: Clark, E. L. and Bell, A. T. (2018) ‘Direct Observation of the Local Reaction Environment during the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2.’ Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140(22) pp. 7012–7020.
📖Read the full paper here.
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