Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2013
Journal Title
Physical Review E
Volume Number
88
Issue Number
3
First Page
032125-1
Last Page
032125-12
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevE.88.032125
Version
Publisher PDF: the final published version of the article, with professional formatting and typesetting
Disciplines
Physics
Abstract
It is shown that a standard principle of traditional catalysis-that a catalyst does not alter the final thermodynamic equilibrium of a reaction-can fail in low-pressure, heterogeneous gas-surface reactions. Kinetic theory for this epicatalysis is presented, and two well-documented experimental examples are detailed: surface ionized plasmas and hydrogen dissociation on refractory metals. This phenomenon should be observable over a wide range of temperatures and pressures, and for a broad spectrum of heterogeneous reactions. By transcending some constraints of equilibrium thermodynamics, epicatalysis might provide additional control parameters and synthetic routes for reactions, and enable product streams boosted in thermochemical energy or desirable species.
Digital USD Citation
Sheehan, D. P., "Nonequilibrium heterogeneous catalysis in the long mean-free-path regime" (2013). Physics and Biophysics: Faculty Scholarship. 14.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/phys-faculty/14