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Interfacial processes that govern the pH dependence of the electrocatalytic reversible hydrogen reaction
Dissertation   Open access

Interfacial processes that govern the pH dependence of the electrocatalytic reversible hydrogen reaction

Saad Intikhab
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Sep 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000053
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Abstract

Electrocatalysis Reversible hydrogen reaction Electrolytic Cells Fuel Cells Surface Chemistry
The hydrogen reaction rates on Pt and other catalysts are facile at low pH, however, the kinetics are found to be several orders of magnitude slower in base. The explanation for this unusual pH dependence has been controversial within the scientific community and limits both fundamental science and applied catalyst design. Traditionally, hydrogen binding energy (HBE) has been used as the sole activity descriptor, independent of electrolyte pH. This alone, however, is not enough to describe the pH dependence of the HER/HOR activity on metals other than Pt. The goal of this work is to uncover the source of the strong pH dependence for reversible hydrogen electrocatalysis. We have put forth in this dissertation a logical progression from fundamental experimental investigations of the chemical and physical processes occurring at the interface to the design of highly active electrocatalyst materials for the alkaline medium.

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