Application: Methanol Oxidation.
Instrument: HPR-20 R&D.
Cell: ECL-Series Insight.
Configuration: Pt catalyst deposited directly onto the PTFE membrane for electrochemical SSITKA.
Key Capabilities: Isotope analysis, quantitative calibration, rapid transient measurements, real-time DEMS, mechanistic studies.
Understanding why one electrocatalyst performs better than another requires more than measuring reaction products—it requires direct measurement of reaction intermediates and their kinetics. In this pioneering study, the Hiden HPR-20 R&D configured with DEMS inlet the ECL-Insight electrochemical cell was used to perform the first demonstration of electrochemical Steady-State Isotopic Transient Kinetic Analysis (eSSITKA). A platinum catalyst was deposited directly onto the PTFE membrane, enabling the rapid response required to monitor isotopic changes immediately after switching between isotopically labelled methanol feeds.
The DEMS system was calibrated to provide quantitative analysis of the evolving CO₂ isotopologues throughout each transient experiment. By analysing these isotopic transients, the authors determined the surface coverage and lifetime of reaction intermediates during methanol oxidation—parameters that are extremely difficult to obtain using conventional electrochemical techniques. These measurements explained the potential dependence of methanol oxidation kinetics and demonstrated the power of isotope-labelled DEMS for investigating electrocatalytic mechanisms.
This paper is an outstanding demonstration of DEMS as a mechanistic research tool, extending its role beyond gas detection to provide quantitative kinetic information that can guide catalyst development.
Why read this paper?
A landmark application showing how isotope-labelled DEMS can quantify reaction intermediates and reveal electrocatalytic mechanisms in real time.
Paper Reference: Circelli, A. R. and Clark, E. L. (2026) ‘Elucidating the Origins of Electrocatalytic Phenomena Using Steady State Isotopic Transient Kinetic Analysis.’ ACS Catalysis. American Chemical Society (ACS), 16(7) pp. 6918–6926.
Read the full paper here.
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