我室周志有教授在 ACIE   上发表论文：Mechanism of Cations Suppressing Proton Diffusion Kinetics for Electrocatalysis

摘要：Proton transfer is crucial for electrocatalysis. Accumulating cations at electrochemical interfaces can alter the proton transfer rate and then tune electrocatalytic performance. However, the mechanism for regulating proton transfer remains ambiguous. Here, we quantify the cation effect on proton diffusion in solution by hydrogen evolution on microelectrodes, revealing the rate can be suppressed by more than 10 times. Different from the prevalent opinions that proton transport is slowed down by modified electric field, we found water structure imposes a more evident effect on kinetics. FTIR test and path integral  indicate that proton prefers to wander within the hydration shell of cations rather than to hop rapidly molecular dynamics simulation along water wires. Low connectivity of water networks disrupted by cations corrupts the fast-moving path in bulk water. This study highlights the promising way for regulating proton kinetics via a modified water structure.

文章链接：https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202218669