N2O reduction by CO over Pt electrode in a solid oxide electrolyte cell

The reduction of nitrous oxide by carbon monoxide in a cell with a solid oxygen-conducting electrolyte -CO+N2O, Pt\0.9ZrO(2)+0.1Y(2)O(3)\Pt+PrO2, air - was studied. Experiments were performed in the temperature range 410 - 670 degrees C. The reaction kinetics under open-circuit conditions and the effect of current passing through the cell on the reaction rate were found to depend on the gaseous composition. In particular: (i) for a reaction mixture rich in N2O, in contrast to the reaction mixture rich in CO, the temperature steady-state multiplicity of the reaction was observed under open-circuit conditions; (ii) for the reaction mixture rich in CO, in contrast to the reaction mixture rich in N2O, a slight non-Faradaic enhancement of the reaction rate upon cathodic current application was demonstrated.