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Updated: Feb 12, 2026
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Performing In Situ Closed-Cell Gas Reactions in the Transmission Electron Microscope
Published on: July 24, 2021
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Correlation between Gas Bubble Formation and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Kinetics at Nanoelectrodes.
Qianjin Chen1,2, Long Luo1
1Department of Chemistry , Wayne State University , Detroit , Michigan 48202 , United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|March 24, 2018
Summary
We found a direct link between hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity and hydrogen gas bubble formation potential on gold and platinum nanodisks. Higher HER activity correlates with bubble formation at less negative potentials.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Surface Science
Background:
- The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for clean energy technologies.
- Understanding nanoscale activity variations is key to optimizing electrocatalysts.
- Gas bubble formation dynamics are linked to electrode surface processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between HER activity and H2 bubble formation potential.
- To explore nanoscale heterogeneity in HER kinetics.
- To establish a predictive relationship for HER activity using bubble formation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) nanodisk electrodes (NEs).
- Development of microkinetic models to determine HER kinetics.
- Measurement of hydrogen gas bubble formation potential (Ebubble).
Main Results:
- Identified rate-determining steps for HER on Au (Volmer) and Pt (Heyrovsky) NEs.
- Observed significant heterogeneity in the standard rate constant (k0) over 2 orders of magnitude for identical NEs.
- Discovered a linear relationship between Ebubble and log(k0) for both Au and Pt NEs (125 mV/decade slope).
- Higher HER activity corresponds to bubble formation at less negative potentials.
Conclusions:
- Nanoscale HER activity is heterogeneous, impacting bubble formation.
- Bubble formation potential serves as a reliable indicator of nanoscale HER activity.
- The findings offer a method to assess nanoparticle HER activity distribution using bubble formation.
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