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The Comprehensive Understanding of 10 mA cm geo − 2 as an Evaluation Parameter for Electrochemical Water Splitting
Author(s) -
Wei Chao,
Xu Zhichuan J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small methods
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.66
H-Index - 46
ISSN - 2366-9608
DOI - 10.1002/smtd.201800168
Subject(s) - overpotential , water splitting , electrocatalyst , oxygen evolution , electrochemistry , ranking (information retrieval) , electrolysis of water , electrode , chemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , computer science , catalysis , electrolysis , information retrieval , organic chemistry , photocatalysis , electrolyte
Comparing the overpotential required to reach the current density of 10 mA cm geo − 2(per geometric area of an electrode) (η@ 10 mA cm geo − 2) is a popular method of ranking electrocatalysts for water‐splitting reactions, i.e., the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, such methodology is, in essence, not reasonable for studying the intrinsic chemistry difference of electrocatalysts. To have a rational understanding of η@ 10 mA cm geo − 2, here, its historical origin and its limitations on reflecting the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity are discussed. The η@ 10 mA cm geo − 2is a valid practical parameter to assess water‐splitting devices, but it cannot determine whether a particular electrocatalyst is intrinsically active or not.