Novel monolithic electrochemically promoted catalytic reactor for environmentally important reactions

A novel dismantlable monolithic-type electrochemically promoted catalytic reactor and 'smart' sensor-catalytic reactor unit has been constructed and tested for hydrocarbon oxidation and NO reduction by C2H4 in presence of O2. In this novel reactor, thin (=20-40nm) porous catalyst films made of two different materials are sputter-deposited on opposing surfaces of thin (0.25mm) parallel solid electrolyte plates supported in the grooves of a ceramic monolithic holder and serve as sensor or electropromoted catalyst elements. Using Rh/YSZ/Pt-type catalyst elements, the 22-plate reactor operated with apparent Faradaic efficiency exceeding 25 achieving near complete fuel and NO conversion at 300C in presence of up to 1.1% O2 in the feed at gas flow rates exceeding 1.3l/min. The metal catalyst dispersion was of the order of at least 15%. The novel reactor design requires only two external electrical connections and permits easy practical utilization of the electrochemical promotion of catalysis