Hydrogenation of Ethylene on Metal Electrodes: Part 2.—Structure of the Adsorption Layer on Platinum at a Working Condition on Open Circuit

Abstract

The structure of the adsorption layer was studied by the potential sweep method on a platinum electrode in 1 N HC104 solution saturated with a reaction gas of various compositions (mixtures of H2, C2H4 and He). Results show that the structure of the adsorption layer satisfies previous predictions on the rate-determining step and that the open circuit potential is determined by the equilibrium condition of the step, H++e_^H(ads). The large change in the hydrogen peak caused by standing the electrode in the solution is in agreement with the decay of the catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of ethylene.