Repulsive Gas-Electrode van der Waals Forces Enable Charge Transfer Reactions under Chemically Modified Bubbles
Vijithra Devi Vijayakumar1, Mattia Belotti1, Marck Norret2
1School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|April 21, 2026
Summary
Researchers integrated gas bubbles into electrochemical processes by stabilizing liquid films with van der Waals forces. This innovation transforms bubbles from reaction blockers into facilitators, enhancing electrode reactions and enabling new applications.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Colloid and Surface Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Gas bubbles are hydrophobic structures crucial for technologies like mineral processing and chemical analysis.
- Bubbles typically hinder electrochemical processes by blocking essential solution-electrode contact and charge transfer.
- Existing electrochemical systems are incompatible with bubble integration due to their insulating properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel method for integrating gas bubbles into electrochemical reactions.
- To overcome the incompatibility of bubbles with electrode processes by stabilizing gas-solution-electrode interfaces.
- To leverage bubble properties for enhanced electrochemical performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized micrometer-sized electrodes and surface-active reactants (<60 mN/m) to promote bubble adhesion.
- Investigated the formation of nanoscale disjoining liquid films under surface-adherent bubbles.
- Exploited repulsive van der Waals (vdW) forces to stabilize gas-solution-electrode junctions.
Main Results:
- Achieved 10-fold rate enhancements in electrode reactions.
- Demonstrated improved reaction reversibility and ionic conductivity.
- Enabled redox cycling of enzymes confined between bubbles and electrodes via vdW-stabilized junctions.
Conclusions:
- Gas bubbles can be integrated into electrochemical systems by stabilizing interfaces with vdW forces.
- Bubbles can be transformed from detrimental dielectric blocks into facilitators of electrode processes.
- This approach opens new avenues for electrochemical technologies utilizing bubble-electrode interactions.
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