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Updated: Feb 1, 2026
05:47
A Direct Force Probe for Measuring Mechanical Integration Between the Nucleus and the Cytoskeleton
Published on: July 29, 2018
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Probing Electrocatalytic Gas Evolution Reaction at Pt by Force Noise Measurements. Part 2. Oxygen
Nataraju Bodappa1, Gregory Jerkiewicz2, Peter Grutter1
1Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 rue University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2T8.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|January 30, 2026
Summary
Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) bubbles nucleate at catalytic sites, impacting performance. Understanding this O2 bubble behavior is key to improving electrocatalysis efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Surface Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for energy conversion technologies.
- Understanding O2 bubble formation is essential for optimizing electrocatalytic processes.
- Nanoscale dynamics at interfaces influence reaction mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate O2 bubble nucleation and growth during OER.
- To map the spatial variation of dynamic steps at electrocatalytic interfaces.
- To understand the interaction between O2 bubbles and catalytically active sites.
Main Methods:
- Tapping mode Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging.
- Utilizing a Platinum (Pt) ultramicroelectrode.
- Analyzing AFM feedback error signals and topography data.
Main Results:
- O2 gas bubbles were observed to nucleate at step-edge sites.
- Interaction between O2 bubbles and active catalytic sites was confirmed.
- This interaction was identified as the cause for decreased current density at high overpotentials.
Conclusions:
- O2 bubble nucleation at step edges influences OER active site distribution.
- Bubble-site interactions significantly reduce OER current density.
- Findings provide deeper insights into gas evolution mechanisms on catalytic surfaces.
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