Introduction to Electrocatalytic Kinetics

Electrocatalytic reactions and processes are expected to be major drivers in society's shift toward renewable energy and chemicals. Electrocatalytic kinetic analysis is an accessible and informative technique to interrogate reaction mechanisms and establish structure-activity relationships. In this tutorial, we discuss general procedures, implicit assumptions, and potential pitfalls when conducting the Tafel analysis in the context of three widely investigated electrocatalytic reactions, i.e., the electrochemical CO2, CO, and O2 reduction reactions. Basic concepts and relations among key thermodynamic and kinetic variables are also covered to help interpret the activation parameters of electrochemical reactions.