Application: Formic Acid Reduction.
Instrument: HPR-40 DEMS.
Cell: ECL-Static.
Configuration: Mo₂C catalyst mounted in the ECL-Static cell for dissolved gas analysis.
Key Capabilities: Real-time gas analysis, quantitative product monitoring, operando DEMS, coupled analytical techniques.
Electrochemical conversion of carbon-containing feedstocks into higher-value chemicals is attracting increasing interest as a route towards sustainable fuel and chemical production. In this study, the Hiden HPR-40 DEMS fitted with the ECL-Static electrochemical cell was used to investigate the reduction of formic acid on molybdenum carbide (Mo₂C) electrodes while continuously monitoring gaseous reaction products under operating conditions. The straightforward ECL-Static configured for flow, enabled real time dissolved gas analysis to be performed alongside conventional electrochemical measurements without requiring a specialised electrode design.
Following calibration, the HPR-40 DEMS continuously monitored hydrogen, methanol and formic acid during electrochemical reduction, providing real-time identification of reaction products and their onset potentials. Complementary NMR measurements confirmed methanol formation and quantified a Faradaic efficiency of approximately 27%. The combined analysis showed that the native oxide layer on Mo₂C promotes adsorption and activation of organic acids, enabling efficient conversion of formic acid to methanol despite simultaneous hydrogen evolution.
This work demonstrates how the HPR-40 DEMS can be integrated with complementary analytical techniques to provide a complete understanding of electrocatalytic reaction mechanisms, making it an excellent example of quantitative operando gas analysis during carbon utilisation studies.
Why read this paper?
A strong example of combining quantitative DEMS with complementary analytical techniques to investigate complex electrocatalytic reaction pathways.
Paper Reference: Winkler, D., Dietrich, V., Griesser, C., Nia, N.S., Wernig, E.M., Tollinger, M. and Kunze‐Liebhäuser, J. (2021). Formic acid reduction and CO2 activation at Mo2C: The important role of surface oxide. Electrochemical Science Advances, 2(3).
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