Measurements of Ion Transfer Kinetics for the Study of Electrocatalyst Corrosion in Gas Diffusion Electrode Microenvironments

Abstract

Nanoparticulate Au, Ag, and Cu films with percolating ion-conducting polymers are common within devices for the electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and alcohols. The kinetics of ion-transfer are influential on the rate of corrosion and catalyst sintering, but direct measurements of ion-transfer rates are challenging at bulk metal electrodes. We present data on the corrosion kinetics of metal nanoclusters and monolayers deposited via underpotential deposition on well-oriented and/or single-crystal metal surfaces within suspended ionomer electrolytes. Our results support the important role of nucleation and growth in corrosion processes as well as the influence of structural anions on reactive intermediates present during corrosion reactions. Figure 1