MIT News October 8, 2024
The adverse effects of electrochemical bubbles on the performance of gas-evolving electrodes are well known. However, studies on the degree of adhered bubble-caused inactivation, and how inactivation changes during bubble evolution are limited. A team of researchers in the US (MIT, University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory) studied electrode inactivation caused by oxygen evolution while using surface engineering to control bubble formation. They found that the inactivation of the entire projected area was poor approximation which led to non-physical results. They analyzed large quantities of experimental data, to show that bubble impacts were small for surface engineered electrodes which promoted high bubble projected areas while maintaining low direct bubble contact. They proposed a simple methodology for more accurately estimating the true extent of bubble inactivation, which was closer to the area that was directly in contact with the bubbles… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: Nanoscale, Advance Article, 8 October 2024Â