Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Activation of Methane over Manganese Oxides Deposited on YSZ

Abstract

The catalytic and the electrocatalytic behavior of MnO(x) oxides deposited on Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) in the form of thin porous films, was studied during the reaction of methane activation at high methane to oxygen ratios. Experiments were carried out in a continuous flow well-mixed reactor (CSTR), at atmospheric total pressure and in a temperature range between 500-850 degrees C. It was found that the electrochemical pumping of oxygen anions (O(2-)) through the solid electrolyte (YSZ) affect drastically the rates of CO(2), C(2)H(4) and C(2)H(6) formation and consequently the C(2) selectivity.