Disentangling Multiple pH-Dependent Factors on the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at Au(111).

ABSTRACT: Understanding how the electrolyte pH affects electrocatalytic activity is a topic of crucial importance in a large variety of systems. However, unraveling the origin of the pH effects is complicated often by the fact that both the reaction driving forces and reactant concentrations in the electric double layer (EDL) change simultaneously with the pH value. Herein, we employ the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at Au(111)-aqueous solution interfaces as a model system to disentangle different pH-dependent factors. In 0.1 M NaOH, the HER current density at Au(111) in the potential range of -0.4 V < E _RHE < 0 V is up to 60 times smaller than that in 0.1 M HClO₄. A reaction model with proper consideration of the local reaction conditions within the EDL is developed

SUBMITTER: Zhen EF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11938166 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature