Surfaces/interfaces play a crucial role in electrocatalysis systems (e.g., hydrogen evolution reaction-HER, oxygen evolution reaction-OER, oxygen reduction reaction-ORR, etc.). The surface layer, sometimes 2-3 atomic thickness, determines the activity, selectivity, stability/durability of electrocatalysts. Nanostructure engineering of electrocatalysts has been very effective in tuning the surface layers. Here, we use examples to discuss how the atoms of the first two surface layers affect HER performance, how the atoms in surface layers affact OER performance through their interplay with the inner core. On the other hand, many real electrocatalysis systems involve polymer electrolytes (ionomers). We will also discuss how electrocatalysts interplay with ionomer at the hard-soft interfaces.

Surface/interface engineering and characterization for nanostructured electrocatalysis systems

254th National Meeting (2017)

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