Milestones and perspectives in electrochemically promoted catalysis

Electrochemical promotion of catalysis is a unique tool for the in situ tuning of catalytic activity of electronically conductive metals or metal oxides in contact with solid electrolytes. The importance of electrochemical promotion to heterogeneous catalysis, surface science and electrochemistry research for the investigation of spillover phenomena and metal-support interactions is well recognized. The unlimited applications of the phenomenon, in terms of catalysts, solid electrolytes or catalytic reactions selection, has been proven through numerous laboratory investigations. Though the molecular origin of electrochemical promotion has been revealed, using a variety of experimental techniques and theoretical calculations, there is still a shortage on the practical level. However, in the last decade, spectacular progress has been made in the development of effective, low cost electropromoted catalysts and reactors. The major technological advances and milestones towards the practical utilization of electrochemical promotion are surveyed in view of electrocatalysts development and system/reactor engineering. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.