Tafel Analysis Predicts Cooperative Redox Enhancement Effects in Thermocatalytic Alcohol Dehydrogenation

Cooperative redox enhancement (CORE) between physically separated but electrochemically connected catalysts promotes thermocatalytic reactions. Using the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol as a model reaction, we showcase two electrochemical approaches that predict monometallic and (CORE-enabled) bimetallic thermocatalytic activities. The common approach of linear sweep voltammetry can accurately determine the activity of individual half-reactions but does not account for competitive adsorption. This can lead to the underprediction of thermocatalytic rates and to overlooking the possibility of leveraging CORE effects. In contrast, adapting utilizing the Tafel method, with both reactants present, can accurately predict thermocatalytic rates and the coupling between separated catalysts.