Article ID: 2023-018
Mixed-potential-driven catalysis could be a novel strategy to control catalytic selectivity. In this mechanism, anodic and cathodic reactions occur simultaneously, forming a mixed potential on the nano-anode and nano-cathode composed of a supported catalyst. To prove the mixed-potential-driven catalysis, we developed a new model reactor with separated electrodes to directly measure currents between anodic and cathodic reactions under high-pressure conditions. We observed that reaction currents supported mixed-potential reactions only when a CO2/H2 mixture was introduced into the model reactor with Cu and Pd electrodes without separating CO2 and H2. This indicates that CO2 reduction and H2 oxidation occurred simultaneously on the Cu and Pd catalysts, respectively, based on the catalytic activity via the mixed-potential mechanism. The products of reaction for 18 h at 373 K were CO, methanol, and ethanol.