Electrochemical promotion of catalysis with highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles

Pt nanoparticles were dispersed in the porosity of a LSCF-GDC electrode interfaced on a dense GDC membrane. Small positive polarizations can strongly increase (38%-enhancement) the catalytic performance of Pt nanoparticles for propane deep oxidation at low temperatures with apparent Faradaic efficiency values up to 85. This study clearly demonstrates that the catalytic activity of metallic nanoparticles dispersed in the porosity of a mixed ionic electronic conducting electrode can be strongly electropromoted. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.