Efficient Methanol Oxidation Kinetics Enabled by an Ordered Heterocatalyst with Dual Electric Fields
Tian Liu, Qingxia Chen, Zhen He, Jinlong Wang, Si‐Zhe Sheng, Jianwei Liu, Shu‐Hong Yu
Abstract
Induced by a sharp-tip-enhanced electric field, periodical nanoassemblies can regulate the reactant flux on the electrode surface, efficiently optimizing the mass transfer kinetics in electrocatalysis. However, when the nanoscale building blocks in homoassemblies are arranged densely, it results in the overlap and reduction of the local electric field. Herein, we present a comprehensive kinetic heteromodel that simultaneously couples the sharp-tip-enhanced electric field and charge transfer electric field between different building blocks with any arrangement densities. The dual electric fields drive the diffusion of reactants from the bulk solution to the electrode surface, significantly enhancing mass transfer kinetics along the horizontal and longitudinal directions, which promotes the electrocatalytic activity significantly. Moreover, the wide generality of the model is further confirmed by electrochemical experiments involving various electrocatalytic systems and catalysts. Therefore, this work highlights the significant role of dual electric fields in electrocatalysis, which is expected to facilitate the development of customized and outstanding catalysts in the future.