Elektrokatalytické

Elektrokatalytické refers to phenomena and processes that involve electrocatalysis. Electrocatalysis is a catalytic reaction that occurs at an electrode-electrolyte interface. In essence, it is the acceleration of an electrochemical reaction by a catalyst. The catalyst, typically a solid material, facilitates the electron transfer between the electrode and the reacting species, thereby lowering the activation energy of the reaction. This can significantly increase the reaction rate and selectivity.

Commonly, electrocatalytic processes are employed in electrochemical devices such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries. In fuel cells, electrocatalysts are crucial for the oxidation of fuels (like hydrogen or methanol) and the reduction of oxidants (like oxygen), enabling the efficient generation of electricity. In electrolyzers, electrocatalysts are used to drive non-spontaneous chemical reactions, such as water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen, or CO2 reduction to valuable chemical products.

The choice of electrocatalyst is highly dependent on the specific reaction. Materials like platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and their alloys are frequently used for oxygen reduction reactions in fuel cells due to their excellent catalytic activity. For other reactions, non-precious metal catalysts, metal oxides, nitrides, and carbon-based materials are being actively researched and developed to reduce costs and improve sustainability. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of electrocatalytic reactions, including adsorption, surface diffusion, and electron transfer, is key to designing more efficient and robust electrocatalytic systems.