Pt(hkl) surface charge and reactivity

Interfacial charge has a decisive influence on the reactivity of the most common electrochemical reactions for practical applications. In this work, the concepts of surface charge and the different types of potential of zero charge are revised on model electrodes. The different methodologies for the determination of the potential of zero charge are reviewed. After that, a thorough examination of the effect of surface charge on different electrochemical reactions of interest is carried out. The acid–base dissociation constants on the surface or the kinetics of relevant electrocatalytic reactions such as nitrate and peroxodisulfate reduction, formic acid oxidation, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide reduction or hydrogen evolution is affected by the interfacial charge. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the surface charge characteristics of the electrode materials to obtain better electrocatalytic activity.This work was supported by the MCINN-FEDER (Spain) through Project CTQ2016-76221-P. VB-M thankfully acknowledges MINECO for the award of a predoctoral grant (BES-2014-068176, Project CTQ2013-44803-P)