title: Complete quantitative online analysis of methanol electrooxidation products via electron impact and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
abstract: We report on a novel approach for complete quantitative online product analysis in electrocatalytic reactions, combining electron impact ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for simultaneous detection of both volatile and nonvolatile reaction products. The potential of this method is demonstrated using continuous methanol oxidation in a flow cell. The overall reaction rate was followed via the Faradaic current; CO(2) formation was monitored mass spectrometrically via a membrane inlet system, and formaldehyde and formic acid were detected by ESI-MS after a derivatization-extraction-separation procedure introduced recently (Zhao, W.; Jusys, Z.; Behm, R. J. Anal. Chem.2010, 82, 2472-2479) providing quantitative data on the product distribution. In a more general sense, this approach is applicable for a wide range of reactions at the solid-liquid interface or in liquid phase.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Ulm University, D-89069 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zenonas
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jusys
authors.forename: R Jürgen
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Behm