Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025

Probing and Mapping Electrode Surfaces in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Published on: September 20, 2012
Interfacial built-in electric-field for boosting energy conversion electrocatalysis
Hui Xu1, Junru Li2, Xianxu Chu2
1Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Technology, Advanced Catalysis and Green Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Center, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province 213164, China. xuhui006@cczu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
The formation of a built-in electric field (BIEF) can induce electron-rich and electron-poor counterparts to synergistically modify electronic configurations and optimize the binding strengths with intermediates, thereby leading to outstanding electrocatalytic performance. Herein, a critical review regarding the concept, modulation strategies, and applications of BIEFs is comprehensively summarized, which begins with the fundamental concepts, together with the advantages of BIEF for boosting electrocatalytic reactions. Then, a systematic summary of the advanced strategies for the modulation of BIEF along with the in-detail mechanisms in its formation are also added. Finally, the applications of BIEF in driving electrocatalytic reactions and some cascade systems for illustrating the conclusive role from the induced BIEF are also systematically discussed, followed by perspectives on the future deployment and opportunity of the BIEF design.
Related Concept Videos
Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview
Induced Electric Fields: Applications
Induced Electric Fields
Electromotive Force
Any circuit with a constant current must contain an emf-producing source. Examples of emf sources include batteries, electric generators, solar cells, thermocouples, and fuel cells. All these sources transform energy of some kind (mechanical, chemical, thermal, and so on)...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...

