A highly flexible electrochemical flow cell designed for the use of model electrode materials on non-conventional substrates

Abstract

We present a novel electrochemical flow cell based on a wall-jet configuration to carry out electrochemical investigations under controlled mass transport conditions. The described setup can be applied for investigations similar to those performed with a common rotating disc electrode setup but allows the use of non-conductive and square substrates. This setup thus opens the possibility for the characterization of a new range of materials on a broad range of substrates. Cyclic voltammograms were recorded to assess the cleanliness and good saturation of the cell with inert gas. The performance of the flow cell regarding hydrodynamic experiments was evaluated by probing the oxygen reduction reaction on differently prepared platinum catalysts, including Pt on non-conductive substrates. The high reproducibility of the limiting currents for these samples demonstrates the good functionality, adaptability, and flexibility of the cell.

Improving the intrinsic activity of electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion: where are we and where can we go?

“…Chemical Science electrodes (GDE), 24 membrane-electrode assemblies 25 and ow cells. 26,27 One strategy to evaluate the role of mass transport in the apparent activity is to perform measurements by varying the loading of the catalyst. In the limit of ultra-low loading, the effects of mass transport and catalyst segregation are minimized, which results in orders of magnitude increase in the TOF, as demonstrated for Pt nanoparticles for the HER, 28 single atom cobalt pthalocyanine (CoPc) catalysts for the CO 2 RR 29 (cf.…”

“…An increasing number of recent studies have employed cell architectures with improved mass transport including floating disc electrode setups, 23 gas diffusion electrodes (GDE), 24 membrane-electrode assemblies 25 and flow cells. 26,27 …”

State-of-the-art Nanofabrication in Catalysis

“…[52] Using several fabrication steps puts tight demands on the design of the sample holders if the rotating disk electrode technique commonly applied for electrochemical kinetics studies, whereby the sample consists of a bulk cylinder, is to be used. [53] Otherwise, alternative electrochemical cells allowing to assess square-shaped samples have to be designed [54] and their current distribution profiles need to be computed to extract kinetically-relevant information from the measured diffusion-limited currents. Most efforts until today have therefore been placed on the fabrication of well-defined platinum nanoparticles with sizes below 50 nm and comparatively large interparticle distances as opposed to studies directed at the latter parameter.…”

Tuning the Surface Electrochemistry by Strained Epitaxial Pt Thin Film Model Electrodes Prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition

“…The electrochemical surface properties of the as‐produced Pt films were investigated by an in‐house designed flow cell using a three‐electrode setup and a potentiostat (VMP3, Biologic). An Hg/Hg 2 SO 4 –electrode, calibrated versus the hydrogen evolution/oxidation reaction on a Pt foil, was used as a reference electrode.…”