How properly are we interpreting the Tafel lines in energy conversion electrocatalysis?

Tafel analysis is one of the most important ways of screening all energy conversion electrocatalysis as it helps to get information on activity (via exchange current density) and mechanism (via Tafel slope). Inappropriate methods of constructing Tafel plots combined with improper interpretation of Tafel pa-rameters (especially Tafel slopes) are clouding the literature more recently than ever because of the unawareness in handling electrochemical characterization data in the research community. Hence, this perspective is dedicated to give a deep discussion on how to properly interpret Tafel lines in water splitting electrocatalysis that can also be adopted for analyzing the Tafel characteristics of other energy conversion reactions.(c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This perspective provides a thorough discussion on how to properly interpret Tafel lines in water splitting electrocatalysis and offers methods that can be adopted for analyzing the Tafel characteristics of other energy conversion reactions.