Mapping the Nucleation of H2 Bubbles on Polycrystalline Pt via Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy

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Abstract
Electrochemically generated bubbles are gaining increasing attention for their detrimental effects on the efficiency of electrocatalysis involving gaseous products, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). As a model system, bubble nucleation is also of fundamental interest. Herein, we report a single-entity approach to map the nucleation of H2 bubbles on polycrystalline Pt via scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). Individual H2 bubbles (∼500 nm radius) are generated via HER in the attoliter electrochemical cell of an SECCM instrument. Nucleation and growth of a H2 bubble results in a characteristic voltammetric peak current, which is related to the concentration and activation energy required for nucleation. By mapping the local voltammograms at various locations on the polycrystalline Pt, we found a heterogeneous distribution of energetics of nucleation for H2 bubbles on the Pt surface. However, such heterogeneity is not correlated with crystal grains or grain boundaries.
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  • University of Miami

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