Metallic and bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical reduction of problematic aqueous anions

Metallic and bimetallic systems are investigated voltammetrically as possible catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of nitrate. Iindium and palladium are the most thoroughly examined metals in this work, but nickel, tin, platinum, thallium, lead, and gallium are also incorporated into the systems investigated. Indium metal is found to perform an 8-electron reduction of nitrate at pH 1 with an onset of -300 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. In-modified Pd wire is also found to exhibit reduction at -300 mV and carbon-supported Pd/In, and the Pd/In/Au electrode were both found to catalyze nitrate reduction at an onset of approximately -200 mV vs. Ag/AgCl in a perchloric acid solution of pH 1. The high onset potentials in these systems are greater than 0 V RHE and therefore represent the fact that these systems could function as catalysts for hydrogenation of nitrate. Of the systems studied they also have the highest activity toward nitrate and did not show signs of degradation, and therefore show the greatest promise in terms of being developed into viable electrocatalysts for nitrate reduction.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Mahle, Thomas

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gewirth, Andrew A.

• Metallic
• Bimetallic
• Catalysts
• Catalyst
• Catalysis
• Electrochemical Reduction
• Aqueous Anions
• Nitrate
• Nitrite
• Nitrous Oxide
• Nitric oxide
• Nitrogen
• Dinitrogen
• Electrocatalysis
• Electrocatalyst
• Electrocatalysts
• carbon supported
• substrate
• carbon black
• Activated Carbon
• wire
• cathode
• cathodic
• catalytic reduction
• reduction catalysis
• water
• purification
• water purification
• blue baby

Statement dc:rights

• © 2012 Thomas Kirk Mahle

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31221

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/31221