ChemPhysChem· 2026Q2
An Ultrathin Hydroxide Film Governs the Stability and Reactivity of Gold for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
- 3citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
An ultrathin (~5 Å) hydroxide film forms on gold (111) prior to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), governing its catalytic properties, dissolution, and restructuring.
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Key points
- An ultrathin (~5 Å) hydroxide film forms on Au(111) prior to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
- This hydroxide film controls the catalytic performance, dissolution, and restructuring of the gold electrode.
- Operando total-reflection X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ICP-MS were used to detect and quantify the film and its effects.
- Surface oxidation is critical for water splitting catalysis, even on inert noble metals like gold.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Surface oxidation of noble metals under electrochemical conditions has decisive impact on the performance of electrocatalysts for electrolyzers and fuel cells. However, the experimental detection of such oxides on well-defined model electrodes under operando conditions is a major challenge, limiting our ability to establish clear structure-performance relationships. Using surface-sensitive total-reflection X-ray absorption spectroscopy in real time during cyclic voltammetry, combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry dissolution measurements, we demonstrate that an ultra-thin (~5 Å) hydroxide film forms on the gold (111) surface prior to the onset of the oxygen evolution reaction and governs its catalytic properties, dissolution, and restructuring. The results highlight the importance of surface oxidation in water splitting catalysis even for Au(111), the most inert surface of the most inert noble metal.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. ChemPhysChem, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy