Elucidation of the crucial catalytic effect of rubidium on oxygen reduction reaction

研究了在碱性溶液中铷离子存在下金电极上氧还原反应的增强机理。然而，它表明，电极的催化活性在很大程度上受铷离子以外的物质的存在的影响。ICP和XPS分析表明，铷盐试剂中含有微量铊。在溶液中加入微量铊离子后，催化剂的氧化还原反应性能明显提高。电极表面的XPS分析表明，吸附的铊可以改变的电子性质，以及在金电极表面的OH基团的吸附量。

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at a gold electrode in the presence of rubidium ion in basic solutions. It was indicated, however, that the catalytic activity of the electrode largely influenced by the presence of substances other than rubidium ion. Chemical analyses using ICP and XPS revealed that a trace amount of thalium existed in the reagent of rubidium salts. The ORR experiment in the presence of tiny amount of thalium ion in the solution showed an appreciable improvement in the catalytic activity. XPS analysis of the electrode surface suggested that the adsorbed thalium can modify the electronic property as well as the adsorption amount of OH groups at the gold electrode surface.