Electrochemical promotion: experiment, rules and mathematical modeling

Electrochemical and conventional promotion are closely related since the former is due to electrochemically controlled migration (backspillover) of promoting ionic species on metal catalyst surfaces. In both cases, the promoting species alter the catalyst surface work function Φ. Here, we develop simple and rigorous rules, which describe the dependence of catalytic rates on catalyst work function. These rules are in very good agreement with the electrochemical and conventional promotion literature. These experimentally derived rules also follow from a mathematical model, which takes into account lateral electrostatic adsorbate interactions.