Microwave-Based State Diagnosis of Three-Way Catalysts: Impact Factors and Application Recommendations.

This study reassesses an overview of the potential of the radio frequency (RF)-based state diagnostics of three-way catalysts (TWC) based on a previous study with an emphasis on the defect chemistry of the catalyst material during reoxidation and reduction. Some data are based on the previous works but are newly processed, and the signal parameters resonant frequency and inverse quality factor are evaluated with respect to applicability. The RF-based method uses electromagnetic resonances in a cavity resonator to provide information on the storage level of the oxygen storage component. The analysis focuses on a holistic investigation and evaluation of the major effects influencing the RF signal during operation. On the one hand, the response to the oxygen storage behavior and the resolution of the measurement method are considered. Therefore, this study merges original data from multiple former publications to provide a comprehensive insight into important measurement effects and their defect chemistry background. On the other hand, the most important cross-sensitivities are discussed and their impact during operation is evaluated. Additionally, the effect of catalyst aging is analyzed. The effects are presented separately for the two resonant parameters: resonant frequency and (unloaded) quality factor. Overall, the data suggest that the quality factor has a way higher signal quality at low temperatures (<400 °C) and the resonant frequency is primarily suitable for high operating temperatures. At most operating points, the quality factor is even more robust against interferences such as exhaust gas stoichiometry and water content. Correctly estimating the catalyst temperature is the most important factor for reliable results, which can be achieved by combining the information of both resonant signals. In the end, the data indicate that microwave-based state diagnosis is a powerful system for evaluating the oxygen storage level over the entire operating range of a TWC. As a research tool and in its application, the system can therefore contribute to the improvement of the emission control of future gasoline vehicles.

Dielectric Properties of Materials Used for Microwave-Based NOx Gas Dosimeters.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), primarily generated from combustion processes, pose significant health and environmental risks. To improve the coordination of measures against excessive NOx emissions, it is necessary to effectively monitor ambient NOx concentrations, which requires the development of precise and cost-efficient detection methods. This study focuses on developing a microwave- or radio frequency (RF)-based gas dosimeter for NOx detection and addresses the optimization of the dosimeter design by examining the dielectric properties of LTCC-based (Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) sensor substrates and barium-based NOx storage materials. The measurements taken utilizing the Microwave Cavity Perturbation (MCP) method revealed that these materials exhibit more pronounced changes in dielectric losses when storing NOx at elevated temperatures. Consequently, operating such a dosimeter at high temperatures (above 300 °C) is recommended to maximize the sensor signal. To evaluate their high-temperature applicability, LTCC substrates were analyzed by measuring their dielectric losses at temperatures up to 600 °C. In terms of NOx storage materials, coating barium on high-surface-area alumina resolved issues related to limited NOx adsorption in pure barium carbonate powders. Additionally, the adsorption of both NO and NO2 was enabled by the application of a platinum catalyst. The change in dielectric losses, which provides the main signal for an RF-based gas dosimeter, only depends on the stored amount of NOx and not on the specific type of nitrogen oxide. Although the change in dielectric losses increases with the temperature, the maximum storage capacity of the material decreases significantly. In addition, at temperatures above 350 °C, NOx is mostly weakly bound, so it will desorb in the absence of NOx. Therefore, in the future development of a reliable RF-based NOx dosimeter, the trade-off between the sensor signal strength and adsorption behavior must be addressed.

Mixed-Potential Ammonia Sensor Based on a Dense Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Film Manufactured at Room Temperature by Powder Aerosol Deposition.

Powder aerosol deposition (often abbreviated as PAD, PADM, or ADM) is a coating method used to obtain dense ceramic films at room temperature. The suitability of this method to obtain ammonia mixed-potential sensors based on an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte that is manufactured using PAD and a V2O5-WO3-TiO2 (VWT)-covered electrode is investigated in this study. The sensor characteristics are compared with data from sensors with screen-printed YSZ solid electrolytes. The PAD sensors outperform those in terms of sensitivity with 117 mV/decade NH3 compared to 88 mV/decade. A variation in the sensor temperature shows that the NH3 sensitivity strongly depends on the sensor temperature and decreases with higher sensor temperature. Above 560 °C, the characteristic curve shifts from exponential to linear dependency. Variations in the water and the oxygen content in the base gas (usually 10% oxygen, 2% water vapor in nitrogen) reveal a strong dependence of the characteristic curve on the oxygen content. Water vapor concentration variations barely affect the sensor signal.

Revealing the Deposition Mechanism of the Powder Aerosol Deposition Method Using Ceramic Oxide Core-Shell Particles.

The powder aerosol deposition (PAD) method is a process to manufacture ceramic films completely at room temperature. Since the first reports by Akedo in the late 1990s, much research has been conducted to reveal the exact mechanism of the deposition process. However, it is still not fully understood. This work tackles this challenge using core-shell particles. Two coated oxides, Al2 O3 core with a SiO2 shell and LiNi0.6 Mn0.2 Co0.2 O2 core with a LiNbO3 shell, are investigated. Initially, the element ratios Al:Si and Ni:Nb of the powder are determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). In a second step, the change in the element ratios of Al:Si and Ni:Nb after deposition is investigated. The element ratios from powder to film strongly shift toward the shell elements, indicating that the particles fracture and only the outer parts of the particles are deposited. In the last step, this work investigates cross-sections of the deposited films with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM combined with EDX and an energy-selective back-scattered electron (EsB) detector to unveil the element distribution within the film itself. Therefore, the following overall picture emerges: particles impact on the substrate or on previously deposited particle, fracture, and only a small part of the impacting particles that originate from the outer part of the impacting particle gets deposited.

Soot Monitoring of Gasoline Particulate Filters Using a Radio-Frequency-Based Sensor.

Owing to increasingly stringent emission limits, particulate filters have become mandatory for gasoline-engine vehicles. Monitoring their soot loading is necessary for error-free operation. The state-of-the-art differential pressure sensors suffer from inaccuracies due to small amounts of stored soot combined with exhaust gas conditions that lead to partial regeneration. As an alternative approach, radio-frequency-based (RF) sensors can accurately measure the soot loading, even under these conditions, by detecting soot through its dielectric properties. However, they face a different challenge as their sensitivity may depend on the engine operation conditions during soot formation. In this article, this influence is evaluated in more detail. Various soot samples were generated on an engine test bench. Their dielectric properties were measured using the microwave cavity perturbation (MCP) method and compared with the corresponding sensitivity of the RF sensor determined on a lab test bench. Both showed similar behavior. The values for the soot samples themselves, however, differed significantly from each other. A way to correct for this cross-sensitivity was found in the influence of exhaust gas humidity on the RF sensor, which can be correlated with the engine load. By evaluating this influence during significant humidity changes, such as fuel cuts, it could be used to correct the influence of the engineon the RF sensor.

Resistive Multi-Gas Sensor for Simultaneously Measuring the Oxygen Stoichiometry (λ) and the NOx Concentration in Exhausts: Engine Tests under Dynamic Conditions.

Due to increasingly stringent limits for NOx emissions, there is now more interest than ever in cost-effective, precise, and durable exhaust gas sensor technology for combustion processes. This study presents a novel multi-gas sensor with resistive sensing principles for the determination of oxygen stoichiometry and NOx concentration in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine (OM 651). A screen-printed porous KMnO4/La-Al2O3 film is used as the NOx sensitive film, while a dense ceramic BFAT (BaFe0.74Ta0.25Al0.01O3-δ) film prepared by the PAD method is used for λ-measurement in real exhaust gas. The latter is also used to correct the O2 cross-sensitivity of the NOx sensitive film. This study presents results under dynamic conditions during an NEDC (new European driving cycle) based on a prior characterization of the sensor films in an isolated sensor chamber with static engine operation. The low-cost sensor is analyzed in a wide operation field and its potential for real exhaust gas applications is evaluated. The results are promising and, all in all, comparable with established, but usually more expensive, exhaust gas sensors.

Disorder to order: how halide mixing in MAPbI3-xBrx perovskites restricts MA dynamics.

Mixed-halide lead perovskites are of particular interest for the design of tandem solar cells currently reaching record efficiencies. While halide phase segregation upon illumination of mixed perovskites is extensively studied, the effect of halide disorder on A cation dynamics is not well understood, despite its importance for charge carrier diffusion and lifetime. Here, we study the methylammonium (MA) reorientational dynamics in mixed halide MAPbI3-xBrx perovskites by a combined approach of experimental solid-state NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on machine-learning force-fields (MLFF). 207Pb NMR spectra indicate the halides are randomly distributed over their lattice positions, whereas PXRD measurements show that all mixed MAPbI3-xBrx samples are cubic. The experimental 14N spectra and 1H double-quantum (DQ) NMR data reveal anisotropic MA reorientations depending on the halide composition and thus associated disorder in the inorganic sublattice. MD calculations allow us to correlate these experimental results to restrictions of MA dynamics due to preferred MA orientations in their local Pb8I12-nBrn "cages". Based on the experimental and simulated results, we develop a phenomenological model that correlates the 1H dipolar coupling and thus the MA dynamics with the local composition and reproduces the experimental data over the whole composition range. We show that the dominant interaction between the MA cations and the Pb-X lattice that influences the cation dynamics is the local electrostatic potential being inhomogeneous in mixed halide systems. As such, we generate a fundamental understanding of the predominant interaction between the MA cations and the inorganic sublattice, as well as MA dynamics in asymmetric halide coordinations.

Resistive, Temperature-Independent Metal Oxide Gas Sensor for Detecting the Oxygen Stoichiometry (Air-Fuel Ratio) of Lean Engine Exhaust Gases.

This study presents a resistive sensor concept based on Barium Iron Tantalate (BFT) to measure the oxygen stoichiometry in exhaust gases of combustion processes. The BFT sensor film was deposited on the substrate by the Powder Aerosol Deposition (PAD) method. In initial laboratory experiments, the sensitivity to pO2 in the gas phase was analyzed. The results agree with the defect chemical model of BFT materials that suggests the formation of holes h• by filling oxygen vacancies VO•• in the lattice at higher oxygen partial pressures pO2. The sensor signal was found to be sufficiently accurate and to have low time constants with changing oxygen stoichiometry. Further investigations on reproducibility and cross-sensitivities to typical exhaust gas species (CO2, H2O, CO, NO, …) confirmed a robust sensor signal that was hardly affected by other gas components. The sensor concept was also tested in real engine exhausts for the first time. The experimental data showed that the air-fuel ratio can be monitored by measuring the resistance of the sensor element, including partial and full-load operation modes. Furthermore, no signs of inactivation or aging during the test cycles were observed for the sensor film. Overall, a promising first data set was obtained in engine exhausts and therefore the BFT system is a possible cost-effective alternative concept to existing commercial sensors in the future. Moreover, the integration of other sensitive films for multi-gas sensor purposes might be an attractive field for future studies.

Multi-scale morphology characterization of hierarchically porous silver foam electrodes for electrochemical CO2 reduction.

Ag catalysts show high selectivities in the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide during the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). Indeed, highly catalytically active porous electrodes with increased surface area achieve faradaic conversion efficiencies close to 100%. To establish reliable structure-property relationships, the results of qualitative structural analysis need to be complemented by a more quantitative approach to assess the overall picture. In this paper, we present a combination of suitable methods to characterize foam electrodes, which were synthesised by the Dynamic Hydrogen Bubble Templation (DHBT) approach to be used for the CO2RR. Physicochemical and microscopic techniques in conjunction with electrochemical analyses provide insight into the structure of the carefully tailored electrodes. By elucidating the morphology, we were able to link the electrochemical deposition at higher current densities to a more homogenous and dense structure and hence, achieve a better performance in the conversion of CO2 to valuable products.

Application of a Robust Thermoelectric Gas Sensor in Firewood Combustion Exhausts.

The quality of wood combustion processes can be effectively improved by achieving the automated control of the combustion air feed. For this purpose, continuous flue gas analysis using in situ sensors is essential. Besides the successfully introduced monitoring of the combustion temperature and the residual oxygen concentration, in this study, in addition, a planar gas sensor is suggested that utilizes the thermoelectric principle to measure the exothermic heat generated by the oxidation of unburnt reducing exhaust gas components such as carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (CxHy). The robust design made of high-temperature stable materials is tailored to the needs of flue gas analysis and offers numerous optimization options. Sensor signals are compared to flue gas analysis data from FTIR measurements during wood log batch firing. In general, impressive correlations between both data were found. Discrepancies occur during the cold start combustion phase. They can be attributed to changes in the ambient conditions around the sensor housing.

Mixing Rules for an Exact Determination of the Dielectric Properties of Engine Soot Using the Microwave Cavity Perturbation Method and Its Application in Gasoline Particulate Filters.

In recent years, particulate filters have become mandatory in almost all gasoline-powered vehicles to comply with emission standards regarding particulate number. In contrast to diesel applications, monitoring gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) by differential pressure sensors is challenging due to lower soot masses to be deposited in the GPFs. A different approach to determine the soot loading of GPFs is a radio frequency-based sensor (RF sensor). To facilitate sensor development, in previous work, a simulation model was created to determine the RF signal at arbitrary engine operating points. To ensure accuracy, the exact dielectric properties of the soot need to be known. This work has shown how small samples of soot-loaded filter are sufficient to determine the dielectric properties of soot itself using the microwave cavity perturbation method. For this purpose, mixing rules were determined through simulation and measurement, allowing the air and substrate fraction of the sample to be considered. Due to the different geometry of filter substrates compared to crushed soot samples, a different mixing rule had to be derived to calculate the effective filter properties required for the simulation model. The accuracy of the determined mixing rules and the underlying simulation model could be verified by comparative measurements on an engine test bench.

Investigation of the Powder Aerosol Deposition Method Using Shadowgraph Imaging.

The powder aerosol deposition method (PAD) is a vacuum-based spray coating technology. It allows for production of highly dense coatings at room temperature, especially of brittle-breaking materials. This yields new options for coating substrate materials that even melt at low temperatures. The film formation mechanism is called room temperature impact consolidation (RTIC). The occurrence of this mechanism is strongly linked to the gas jet used in the process. The velocity and direction of the particles in the gas jet forming between the nozzle orifice and the substrate are the main factors influencing the quality of the coating. This dependency aimed to be elaborated with a measurement setup and coating experiments and is shown in this work. We investigated the gas jet formation using a shadow optical imaging system. Regions of different gas density are visualized by this technique. Several parameter sets, in particular gas flow rates and chamber pressures, were investigated. In addition, coatings were produced on glass substrates with the same parameters. As a coating material, the superconducting ceramic-like magnesium diboride (MgB2) was chosen. A correlation between shadow images and thickness profiles of the coatings shows how the gas jet formation affects the uniformity of thickness. Shadow optical images provide valuable information on the flight direction of the particles and allow validation of simulation results.

Microscopic (Dis)order and Dynamics of Cations in Mixed FA/MA Lead Halide Perovskites.

Recent developments in the field of high efficiency perovskite solar cells are based on stabilization of the perovskite crystal structure of FAPbI3 while preserving its excellent optoelectronic properties. Compositional engineering of, for example, MA or Br mixed into FAPbI3 results in the desired effects, but detailed knowledge of local structural features, such as local (dis)order or cation interactions of formamidinium (FA) and methylammonium (MA), is still limited. This knowledge is, however, crucial for their further development. Here, we shed light on the microscopic distribution of MA and FA in mixed perovskites MA1-x FA x PbI3 and MA0.15FA0.85PbI2.55Br0.45 by combining high-resolution double-quantum 1H solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with state-of-the-art near-first-principles accuracy molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using machine-learning force-fields (MLFFs). We show that on a small local scale, partial MA and FA clustering takes place over the whole MA/FA compositional range. A reasonable driving force for the clustering might be an increase of the dynamical freedom of FA cations in FA-rich regions. While MA0.15FA0.85PbI2.55Br0.45 displays similar MA and FA ordering as the MA1-x FA x PbI3 systems, the average cation-cation interaction strength increased significantly in this double mixed material, indicating a restriction of the space accessible to the cations or their partial immobilization upon Br- incorporation. Our results shed light on the heterogeneities in cation composition of mixed halide perovskites, helping to exploit their full optoelectronic potential.

Linking the Electrical Conductivity and Non-Stoichiometry of Thin Film Ce1-xZrxO2-δ by a Resonant Nanobalance Approach.

Bulk ceria-zirconia solid solutions (Ce1-xZrxO2-δ, CZO) are highly suited for application as oxygen storage materials in automotive three-way catalytic converters (TWC) due to the high levels of achievable oxygen non-stoichiometry δ. In thin film CZO, the oxygen storage properties are expected to be further enhanced. The present study addresses this aspect. CZO thin films with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 were investigated. A unique nano-thermogravimetric method for thin films that is based on the resonant nanobalance approach for high-temperature characterization of oxygen non-stoichiometry in CZO was implemented. The high-temperature electrical conductivity and the non-stoichiometry δ of CZO were measured under oxygen partial pressures pO2 in the range of 10-24-0.2 bar. Markedly enhanced reducibility and electronic conductivity of CeO2-ZrO2 as compared to CeO2-δ and ZrO2 were observed. A comparison of temperature- and pO2-dependences of the non-stoichiometry of thin films with literature data for bulk Ce1-xZrxO2-δ shows enhanced reducibility in the former. The maximum conductivity was found for Ce0.8Zr0.2O2-δ, whereas Ce0.5Zr0.5O2-δ showed the highest non-stoichiometry, yielding δ = 0.16 at 900 °C and pO2 of 10-14 bar. The defect interactions in Ce1-xZrxO2-δ are analyzed in the framework of defect models for ceria and zirconia.

Gas evolution in electrochemical flow cell reactors induces resistance gradients with consequences for the positioning of the reference electrode.

With the transfer of the electrochemical CO2-reduction from academic labs towards industrial application, one major factor is the increase in current density. This can be achieved via the usage of a gas diffusion electrode. It allows for electrochemical reactions at the three-phase boundary between gaseous CO2, liquid electrolyte and electrocatalyst. Thus, current densities in commercially relevant magnitudes of 200 mA cm-2 and beyond can be reached. However, when increasing the current density one faces a new set of challenges, unknown from low current experiments. Here, we address the issue of gas evolution causing a local increase in resistance and the impact on the operation of flow cells with gas diffusion electrodes. We set up a simple simulation model and compared the results with experiments on a real setup. As a result, the gas evolution's strong impact on current-, potential- and resistance-distributions along the flow axis can be described. Main consequence is that the positioning of the reference electrode has a significant effect on the locally measured IR-drop and thus on the measured or applied potential. Therefore, data from different setups must be compared with great care, especially with respect to the potentials, on which the cell is operated.

Determination of the Dielectric Properties of Storage Materials for Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment Using the Microwave Cavity Perturbation Method.

Recently, a laboratory setup for microwave-based characterization of powder samples at elevated temperatures and different gas atmospheres was presented. The setup is particularly interesting for operando investigations on typical materials for exhaust gas aftertreatment. By using the microwave cavity perturbation method, where the powder is placed inside a cavity resonator, the change of the resonant properties provides information about changes in the dielectric properties of the sample. However, determining the exact complex permittivity of the powder samples is not simple. Up to now, a simplified microwave cavity perturbation theory had been applied to estimate the bulk properties of the powders. In this study, an extended approach is presented which allows to determine the dielectric properties of the powder materials more correctly. It accounts for the electric field distribution in the resonator, the depolarization of the sample and the effect of the powder filling. The individual method combines findings from simulations and recognized analytical approaches and can be used for investigations on a wide range of materials and sample geometries. This work provides a more accurate evaluation of the dielectric powder properties and has the potential to enhance the understanding of the microwave behavior of storage materials for exhaust gas aftertreatment, especially with regard to the application of microwave-based catalyst state diagnosis.

Modelling the Influence of Different Soot Types on the Radio-Frequency-Based Load Detection of Gasoline Particulate Filters.

Gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) are an appropriate means to meet today's emission standards. As for diesel applications, GPFs can be monitored via differential pressure sensors or using a radio-frequency approach (RF sensor). Due to largely differing soot properties and engine operating modes of gasoline compared to diesel engines (e.g., the possibility of incomplete regenerations), the behavior of both sensor systems must be investigated in detail. For this purpose, extensive measurements on engine test benches are usually required. To simplify the sensor development, a simulation model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics® that not only allowed for calculating the loading and regeneration process of GPFs under different engine operating conditions but also determined the impact on both sensor systems. To simulate the regeneration behavior of gasoline soot accurately, an oxidation model was developed. To identify the influence of different engine operating points on the sensor behavior, various samples generated at an engine test bench were examined regarding their kinetic parameters using thermogravimetric analysis. Thus, this compared the accuracy of soot mass determination using the RF sensor with the differential pressure method. By simulating a typical driving condition with incomplete regenerations, the effects of the soot kinetics on sensor accuracy was demonstrated exemplarily. Thereby, the RF sensor showed an overall smaller mass determination error, as well as a lower dependence on the soot kinetics.

What Happens during Thermal Post-Treatment of Powder Aerosol Deposited Functional Ceramic Films? Explanations Based on an Experiment-Enhanced Literature Survey.

Powder aerosol deposition (PAD) is a unique ceramic spray coating method that produces dense and well-adhering thick-films directly at room temperature, without requiring any heating or sintering. After the successful film formation, mechanical film properties like hardness or plasma resistance are remarkably good. However, when it comes to electrical properties like permittivity or electrical conductivity, the nanocrystalline structure of PAD films combined with high internal strains deteriorates partly the characteristic properties. The electrical conductivity may already be present within the as-deposited films. However, it is mostly lowered by several orders of magnitude. Therefore, a thermal post-deposition annealing is oftentimes required. In this work, electrically conducting films produced by powder aerosol deposition are surveyed based on published data. Their microstructural and electrical behavior during the post-deposition annealing treatment is summarized and reasons for the lowered electrical conductivity are identified. Additionally, the processes taking place during annealing, which eventually allow to regain bulk-like functional properties, are examined. A universal annealing behavior is found that leads to a quantitative recommendation for the suitable film annealing temperatures to regain the electrical conductivities.

Novel Operation Strategy to Obtain a Fast Gas Sensor for Continuous ppb-Level NO2 Detection at Room Temperature Using ZnO-A Concept Study with Experimental Proof.

A novel sensor operation concept for detecting ppb-level NO2 concentrations at room temperature is introduced. Today's research efforts are directed to make the sensors as fast as possible (low response and recovery times). Nevertheless, hourly mean values can hardly be precisely calculated, as the sensors are still too slow and show baseline drifts. Therefore, the integration error becomes too large. The suggested concept follows exactly the opposite path. The sensors should be made as slow as possible and operated as resistive gas dosimeters. The adsorption/desorption equilibrium should be completely shifted to the adsorption side during a sorption phase. The gas-sensitive material adsorbs each NO2 molecule (dose) impinging and the sensor signal increases linearly with the NO2 dose. The actual concentration value results from the time derivative, which makes the response very fast. When the NO2 adsorption capacity of the sensor material is exhausted, it is regenerated with ultraviolet (UV) light and the baseline is reached again. Since the baseline is newly redefined after each regeneration step, no baseline drift occurs. Because each NO2 molecule that reaches the sensor material contributes to the sensor signal, a high sensitivity results. The sensor behavior of ZnO known so far indicates that ZnO may be suitable to be applied as a room-temperature chemiresistive NO2 dosimeter. Because UV enhances desorption of sorbed gas species from the ZnO surface, regeneration by UV light should be feasible. An experimental proof demonstrating that the sensor concept works at room temperature for ppb-level NO2 concentrations and low doses is given.

Operando Determination of the Thermal Decomposition of Supported Ionic Liquids by a Radio-Frequency-Based Method.

The analysis of the thermal stability of supported ionic liquids (ILs) is of great interest for their application in catalysis. However, thermogravimetric (TG) measurements are very time-consuming, destructive, and cannot be conducted operando. Therefore, a new radio-frequency (RF)-based method is presented that analyzes the electrical properties of supported ILs in the microwave range and can detect a possible IL mass loss caused by evaporation or decomposition. In this study, the decomposition of supported 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([BMIM][DMP]) with and without palladium (as an active metal) is investigated operando during the selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene. In addition to volatile decomposition products, solid products are formed, which remain on the carrier. These solid products impair the activity of the Pd catalyst. Using the RF-based method, a distinction can be made between "intact" IL and the solid decomposition products because the electrical properties of both substances differ substantially. In contrast, the destructive TG analysis only measures the mass loss by the formation of gaseous decomposition products and thus cannot distinguish between "intact" IL and the solid decomposition products of [BMIM][DMP]. In addition, a model of the thermal decomposition which depicts the measured mass losses well is presented.