Falgairette, C.Xia, C.Li, Y. D.Harbich, W.Comninellis, Ch.2010-06-082010-06-082010-06-08201010.1007/s10800-010-0159-xhttps://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/50697WOS:000281970900023A new experimental set-up, coupling electrochemistry and mass spectroscopic techniques, for the investigation of a solid electrochemical cell under high vacuum conditions (HV) is presented. Two configurations are realized allowing the investigation of both the electrochemical and electrocatalytical behavior of a thin Pt layer on yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ). We can readily select the atmosphere down to 10(-6) Pa partial pressure and determine the response of the system in less than 1 s. Under HV conditions, YSZ appears electrochemically active and we have identified, in the cathodic potential domain, the reduction/oxidation process of zirconia and in the anodic domain, the platinum oxidation/reduction and the oxygen evolution reactions. In a catalytic active gas mixture, despite the Faradaic enhancement of the CO oxidation observed over Pt/YSZ during an anodic polarization, an intriguing sustainable enhanced Pt/YSZ catalyst activity is achieved after current interruption.Mass spectrometryElectrochemistryHvPermanent EPOCPt electrodesPt/Ysz CatalystsHeterogeneous CatalysisCharge StorageCo OxidationPromotionSpectroscopyInterfaceSpilloverElectrodeO-18(2)text::journal::journal article::research article