Online Monitoring of Electrochemical Carbon Corrosion in Alkaline Electrolytes by Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry

Carbon corrosion at high anodic potentials is a major source of instability, especially in acidic electrolytes and impairs the long‐term functionality of electrodes. In‐depth investigation of carbon corrosion in alkaline environment by means of differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2020-01, Vol.59 (4), p.1585-1589
Main Authors: Möller, Sandra, Barwe, Stefan, Masa, Justus, Wintrich, Daniela, Seisel, Sabine, Baltruschat, Helmut, Schuhmann, Wolfgang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidification
Anodic protection
Carbon
carbon corrosion
Carbon dioxide
Catalysts
cell design
Chemical evolution
Communication
Communications
Corrosion
Corrosion prevention
Corrosion products
DEMS
differential electrochemical mass spectrometry
electrocatalysis
Electrocatalysts
Electrochemistry
Electrolytes
Internet
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Nickel
On-line systems
Scientific imaging
Spectroscopy
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Summary:Carbon corrosion at high anodic potentials is a major source of instability, especially in acidic electrolytes and impairs the long‐term functionality of electrodes. In‐depth investigation of carbon corrosion in alkaline environment by means of differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) is prevented by the conversion of CO2 into CO32−. We report the adaptation of a DEMS system for online CO2 detection as the product of carbon corrosion in alkaline electrolytes. A new cell design allows for in situ acidification of the electrolyte to release initially dissolved CO32− as CO2 in front of the DEMS membrane and its subsequent detection by mass spectrometry. DEMS studies of a carbon‐supported nickel boride (NixB/C) catalyst and Vulcan XC 72 at high anodic potentials suggest protection of carbon in the presence of highly active oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. Most importantly, carbon corrosion is decreased in alkaline solution. Caught in the act: Direct detection of CO2 as a marker for carbon oxidation in alkaline electrolytes is now possible using a novel DEMS cell (DEMS=differential electrochemical mass spectrometry) and a specially designed experimental procedure. A high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst loading on carbon suppresses carbon corrosion in alkaline media.
ISSN:1433-7851
1521-3773
DOI:10.1002/anie.201909475