Effect of anodic polarization on the free-floating parts at Pt/YSZ catalyst electrode

Photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) was used as spatially resolving method to explore the effect of electrochemical pumping with a positive voltage to porous platinum electrodes interfaced as working electrode to yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The experiments were conducted under UHV conditions (p ≈ 10−9 mbar). In PEEM a uniform rapid darkening of the Pt surface was observed during anodic polarization followed by the appearance of bright spots on a dark background. The bright spots observed in PEEM images are due to zirconia reduction around electrically isolated Pt islands.