ADSORPTION AND HYDROGENATION OF SIMPLE ALKENES AT PT-GROUP METAL-ELECTRODES STUDIED BY DEMS - INFLUENCE OF THE CRYSTAL ORIENTATION

The adsorption of ethene and cyclohexene on mono-and polycrystalline Pt and on polycrystalline Pd electrodes was studied using differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). Both molecules are partially hydrated to an oxygen containing species upon adsorption on Pt. In the case of ethene, this species dissociated to methane and adsorbed CO at negative potentials. Another part of the adsorbed ethene can be cathodically desorbed as ethane and butane. The ratio of the various species formed strongly depends on crystal orientation and adsorption potential. Contrary to heterogenous gas phase hydrogenation (and also contrary to some earlier reports on electrochemical hydrogenation), the rate of the Faradaic hydrogenation reaction is also strongly dependent on the crystallographic orientation, being faster on Pt(110) or roughened surfaces. During hydrogenation, H/D exchange occurs to an appreciable degree, suggesting the participation of adsorbed intermediates.