Hydrogen evolution reaction: a kinetic study on electrodes with two domains of adsorption sites

M.R. GENNERO DE CHIALVO; A.C. CHIALVO

JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY - (Print)

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 1995 vol. 388 p. 215 - 224

1572-6657

The present work deals with a theoretical study of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on heterogeneous electrode surfaces characterized by two domains of adsorption energies for the reaction intermediate, which were simulated through a normal bimodal distribution function. The HER was described by the Volmer-Heyrovsky-Tafel mechanism, which was solved without kinetic approximations and in steady state conditions. The dependences of the current density and the surface coverage on the overpotential were evaluated as well as the adsorption isotherm. On the basis of this simulation, it has been concluded that the surface heterogeneity produces substantial modifications of the kinetic behaviour of the Volmer-Heyrovsky-Tafel mechanism.