The extension of the surface interrogation mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SI-SECM) is demonstrated for porous electrode materials. These materials are often high surface area powders which are very important electrocatalysts for instance in fuel cells or water electrolyzers. The powdered electrocatalyst material is filled into a cavity-microelectrode which is then operated as the sample electrode in SECM. After a surface oxide generation step, the oxides on the porous sample are reduced by [Ru(NH)] formed at the microelectrode probe of the SECM while the sample is at open circuit potential. Such porous electrodes pose the difficulty to cope with unavoidable variations in the filling of the cavity and to access the entire surface by the mediator. The electrochemically active surface area is used to compensate the variation in filling. It can also be used for calculating coverages of surface oxides for a better comparison between different electrodes. We found a complete and fast accessibility for all investigated porous electrodes which is based on electron transfer. Therefore, we propose a "vertical feedback" mechanism analogous to SECM feedback experiments on extended flat samples at open circuit potential. Moreover, the current transients indicate that distinctive oxide species with different kinetics are present. Taken together, these measures ensure consistent determination of oxide coverages for nanoporous gold and carbon-supported platinum nanoparticles.

Cobalt oxides are known as abundant and stable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an alkaline environment. Here, the ORR activity of Co3O4 and mixed metal oxides NiCo2O4 and CuCo2O4 was studied. Synthesis by using the nanocasting procedure resulted in a mesostructured spinel phase with uniform morphology and high surface area. However, the evaluation of the specific activity of this material class is often hampered by limitations in determining the real surface area. The cavity‐microelectrode technique did not require the addition of any additives to the catalytic material. Thus, measuring the double layer capacitance was used to assess the surface area. This approach showed comparable and reliable values for all samples and different cavity depths. Furthermore, the in situ derived surface area enabled the determination of the specific ORR activity, which is more accurate than utilizing the geometric and nitrogen absorption derived surface area. Although the activity of Co3O4 was rather low, the presence of Ni2+ and Cu2+ in the mixed metal oxides led to a substantial activity enhancement, possibly by providing additional active sites.

Given the hexadenticity of the monoanionic ligand in the procatalyst [Mn(tpena)(H2O)](ClO4) {tpena– = N,N,N′‐tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine‐N′‐acetate}, it is perhaps surprising that this complex can catalyze the epoxidation of alkenes. When peracetic acid is used as terminal oxidant, the selectivity and rates of reactions are comparable with those reported for the manganese complexes of the commonly employed neutral tetradentate N4 ligands under analogous conditions. Cyclooctene conversion rates are similar when tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is used; however, the selectivity is greatly diminished. In the absence of organic substrates, [MnII(tpena)]+ catalyzes water oxidation by TBHP (initial rate ca. 23 mmol/h when [Mn] = 0.1 mM, at room temp.). To explain the variations in the selectivity of catalytic epoxidations and the observation of competing water oxidation, we propose that several metal‐based oxidants (the “cooks”) can be generated from [MnII(tpena)]+. These embody different potencies. The most powerful, and hence least selective, is proposed to be the isobaric isomer of [MnIV2(O)2(tpena)2]2+, namely an oxylic radical complex, [(tpena)MnIII(μ2‐O)MnIV(O·)(tpena)]2+. The formation of this species depends on the catalyst concentration, and it is favoured when TBHP is used as the terminal oxidant. The generation of the less potent [MnIV(O)(tpena)]+, which we propose as the direct oxidant in epoxidation reactions, is favoured in non‐aqueous solutions when peracetic acid is used as the terminal oxidant.

Optimisation of anion exchange membranes provides a high potential for overcoming remaining challenges of alkaline fuel cells. The modification of the polymer structure by incorporation of additives allows a specific adaption of membrane properties such as ion conductivity. Glucose, ortho-dichlorobenzene (ODB) and silica particles were tested as additives to modify a commercially available membrane. An optimised amount of additive was crucial to obtain a mechanical stable membrane. The morphology of the modified membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy showing a porous structure for the ODB modified membrane. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, over a wide range of temperatures, resulted in increased ion conductivity for all cases. Finally, thermogravimetric analysis coupled to a GC/MS system gave proof of the incorporation of glucose in the membrane. These findings will encourage us to use modified membranes in the preparation and testing of single cells for the alkaline fuel cell.