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 HClO₄ 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.