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Electrolyte effects

Cations in alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis

Nature Catalysis volume 5, pages 846–847 (2022)Cite this article

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The composition of an electrolyte has a significant effect on electrocatalytic reaction rates and product selectivities. One mechanism by which spectator alkali cations can dictate reaction kinetics is now better understood.

Electrocatalysis provides a means to use intermittent renewable electricity from solar or wind power to drive sustainable, catalytic processes, such as water electrolysis. During water electrolysis, water molecules are split to form hydrogen, a storable fuel which could be used to store this renewable energy for use when the sun is not shinning or the wind is not blowing, or as a renewable feedstock for the chemical industry, replacing hydrogen derived from fossil fuels. In water electrolysis, two reactions occur simultaneously; the one in which hydrogen is produced is known as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

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Fig. 1: Determining the role of near-surface cations in the alkaline HER.

Adapted from ref. 6, Springer Nature Ltd.

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  1. Twitter: @McCrum_Group

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  1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clarkson University, Postdam, NY, USA

    Ian T. McCrum

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  1. Ian T. McCrum
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Correspondence to Ian T. McCrum.

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McCrum, I.T. Cations in alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis. Nat Catal 5, 846–847 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-022-00858-4

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