Solutal Marangoni effect determines bubble dynamics during electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Understanding and manipulating gas bubble evolution during electrochemical water splitting is a crucial strategy for optimizing the electrode/electrolyte/gas bubble interface. Here gas bubble dynamics are investigated during the hydrogen evolution reaction on a well-defined platinum microelectrode by varying the electrolyte composition. We find that the microbubble coalescence efficiency follows the Hofmeister series of anions in the electrolyte. This dependency yields very different types of H-2 gas bubble evolution in different electrolytes, ranging from periodic detachment of a single H-2 gas bubble in sulfuric acid to aperiodic detachment of small H-2 gas bubbles in perchloric acid. Our results indicate that the solutal Marangoni convection, induced by the anion concentration gradient developing during the reaction, plays a critical role at practical current density conditions. The resulting Marangoni force on the H-2 gas bubble and the bubble departure diameter therefore depend on how surface tension varies with concentration for different electrolytes. This insight provides new avenues for controlling bubble dynamics during electrochemical gas bubble formation.

Automated summary

Understanding and manipulating gas bubble evolution during electrochemical water splitting is crucial for optimizing the electrode/electrolyte/gas bubble interface. The study investigates gas bubble dynamics during the hydrogen evolution reaction on a platinum microelectrode by varying the electrolyte composition. The results reveal that the efficiency of microbubble coalescence follows the Hofmeister series of anions in the electrolyte, leading to different types of H-2 gas bubble evolution in different electrolytes.