DEMS study of ammonia oxidation on platinum basal planes

The oxidation of ammonia has been studied using Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry on the three Pt basal planes. The observed products N2, NO and N2O were obtained for the three platinum single crystals. The sensitivity of the ammonia oxidation towards Pt(1 0 0) sites is highlighted as well as the presence of a poison formed during the oxidation that blocks the surface. This species seems to inhibit the N2 formation at lower potentials than for NO and N2O.