Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

22.9K
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
22.9K
Factors Influencing the Rate of Chemical Reactions01:22

Factors Influencing the Rate of Chemical Reactions

8.0K
A variety of factors influence the rate of chemical reactions. For a chemical reaction to happen, atoms must collide with enough energy to overcome the repulsion between their electrons. This energy is called activation energy. Factors influencing the rate of reaction either lower the activation energy or increase the likelihood of a successful collision.
Concentration and Pressure:
The more particles present within a given space, the more likely those particles are to bump into one another....
8.0K
Factors Affecting Activity Coefficient01:17

Factors Affecting Activity Coefficient

1.6K
The extended Debye-Hückel equation indicates that the activity coefficient of an ion in an aqueous solution at 25°C depends on three partially interdependent properties: the ionic strength of the solution, the charge of the ion, and the ion size. 
The activity coefficient value for an ion is close to one when the solution has almost zero ionic strength, i.e., when the solution shows close to ideal behavior. As the ionic strength of the solution increases from 0 to 0.1 mol/L, a...
1.6K
Heterogeneous Catalysis01:22

Heterogeneous Catalysis

141
Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
141
Processes at Electrodes01:30

Processes at Electrodes

98
The electrode interacts with ions in the electrolyte solution at its interface. The rate of oxidation and reduction depends on the speed at which electrons can transfer through this interface. As ions attach to or leave the electrode surface, the electrode acquires a charge, and an electrical potential forms across the interface, making the process more difficult to reach equilibrium. The charge on the electrode affects the local ion concentrations in the solution, though thermal motion...
98
Acid Attack on Concrete01:21

Acid Attack on Concrete

1.1K
When acids come into contact with concrete, they initiate a chemical reaction that dissolves the hydrated cement paste. This process leads to softening and structural weakening of the concrete. This issue is commonly observed in environments such as chimneys, sewers, and industrial settings. The severity of the damage increases as the pH of the water interacting with the concrete drops below 6.5. In particular, a pH under 4.5 can cause significant concrete damage.
The rate at which hydrogen...
1.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Enzymatic oxygen reduction dominates overpotential-driven thermogenesis in mitochondria.

Chemical science·2026
Same author

Nanoarchitectonics of Metal-Organic Framework on Fullerene Assemblies: Fabrication of Hierarchical Nanostructured Carbon Electrocatalysts.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

Subsurface Graphitic Nitrogen Activates Protonated Pyridinic-N Sites for Acidic Oxygen Reduction.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Coracoid bending for refractory anterior upper arm pain after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

JSES reviews, reports, and techniques·2026
Same author

Precise 3D structure determination of Cu single atoms on an α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>(0001) surface by polarization-dependent total reflection fluorescence X-ray absorption fine structure and first-principles calculations.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2026
Same author

Pollutants to Products: A Tailored Multicomponent Photocatalyst for Simultaneous CO<sub>2</sub> and Plastic Waste Conversion.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications
09:18

Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications

Published on: June 21, 2017

11.4K

Why Does the Performance of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Electrocatalysts Decrease in Acidic Conditions?

Kenji Hayashida1, Junji Nakamura2, Kotaro Takeyasu3,4

  • 1Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 0010021, Japan.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|May 2, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts degrade in acidic fuel cell electrolytes. Their activity loss is linked to pyridinic nitrogen

Keywords:
Carbon catalystOxygen reduction reactionReactivation mechanismSurface science

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

18.0K
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
08:40

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

Published on: December 6, 2021

3.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 3, 2026

Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications
09:18

Simple Methods for the Preparation of Non-noble Metal Bulk-electrodes for Electrocatalytic Applications

Published on: June 21, 2017

11.4K
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

18.0K
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
08:40

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

Published on: December 6, 2021

3.4K

Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Nitrogen-doped carbon (NDC) shows promise as a low-cost catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
  • NDC catalytic activity diminishes in acidic electrolytes, hindering fuel cell applications.
  • Pyridinic nitrogen (pyri-N) is identified as the primary active site in NDC catalysts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the degradation mechanisms of NDC catalysts in acidic media.
  • To investigate the role of pyridinic nitrogen's acid-base equilibrium in catalyst deactivation.
  • To establish guidelines for enhancing NDC catalyst performance.

Main Methods:

  • Electrochemical analysis of NDC catalysts.
  • Investigation of reaction pathways involving pyridinic nitrogen and oxygen.
  • Correlation of catalytic activity with the basicity of pyridinic nitrogen.

Main Results:

  • Electrochemical hydrogenation of pyri-N to pyri-NH, coupled with oxygen adsorption, is a key degradation process.
  • This reaction occurs at lower potentials in acidic electrolytes due to pyri-N protonation.
  • Catalyst activity decrease in acid is directly related to the basicity of pyri-N.

Conclusions:

  • The acid-base properties of pyridinic nitrogen dictate NDC catalyst stability in acidic electrolytes.
  • Controlling the basicity (pKa) of pyri-N is crucial for improving ORR and other electrode reactions.
  • This study provides a fundamental understanding for designing robust NDC electrocatalysts.