TY - JOUR
T1 - Combined effects of electrode morphology and electrolyte composition on single H2 gas bubble detachment during hydrogen evolution reaction
AU - Park, Sunghak
AU - Bashkatov, Aleksandr
AU - Eggebeen, Jordy J.J.
AU - Lee, Siyoung
AU - Lohse, Detlef
AU - Krug, Dominik
AU - Koper, Marc T.M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
PY - 2025/3/21
Y1 - 2025/3/21
N2 - During the hydrogen evolution reaction, H2 gas bubbles form on the electrode surface, significantly affecting electrochemical processes, particularly at high current densities. While promoting bubble detachment has been shown to enhance the current density, the mechanisms governing gas bubble detachment at the electrochemical interface remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the interplay between electrode surface morphology and electrolyte composition on single H2 gas bubble detachment during hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Using well-defined Pt microelectrodes as model systems, we systematically modify and enhance their surface roughness through mechanical polishing to investigate these effects in detail. By modulating the Marangoni effect through variations in electrolyte composition and applied potential, we identified two distinct detachment behaviours. When the Marangoni force acts towards the electrodes, H2 gas bubbles are positioned closer to the electrode surface and exhibit roughness-dependent detachment, with smaller bubbles detaching earlier on rougher surfaces. Conversely, when the Marangoni force is directed away from the electrode, H2 gas bubbles are located farther from the electrode surface and show roughness-independent detachment sizes. These findings highlight the importance of considering both electrode and electrolyte effects to optimize gas bubble detachment during electrochemical reactions.
AB - During the hydrogen evolution reaction, H2 gas bubbles form on the electrode surface, significantly affecting electrochemical processes, particularly at high current densities. While promoting bubble detachment has been shown to enhance the current density, the mechanisms governing gas bubble detachment at the electrochemical interface remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the interplay between electrode surface morphology and electrolyte composition on single H2 gas bubble detachment during hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Using well-defined Pt microelectrodes as model systems, we systematically modify and enhance their surface roughness through mechanical polishing to investigate these effects in detail. By modulating the Marangoni effect through variations in electrolyte composition and applied potential, we identified two distinct detachment behaviours. When the Marangoni force acts towards the electrodes, H2 gas bubbles are positioned closer to the electrode surface and exhibit roughness-dependent detachment, with smaller bubbles detaching earlier on rougher surfaces. Conversely, when the Marangoni force is directed away from the electrode, H2 gas bubbles are located farther from the electrode surface and show roughness-independent detachment sizes. These findings highlight the importance of considering both electrode and electrolyte effects to optimize gas bubble detachment during electrochemical reactions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001879942&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/d5nr00234f
DO - 10.1039/d5nr00234f
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105001879942
SN - 2040-3364
VL - 17
SP - 10020
EP - 10034
JO - Nanoscale
JF - Nanoscale
IS - 16
ER -