Beilstein Talk "Implications and applications of local pH in electrocatalysis"

Beilstein Talks

The Beilstein Talks are an established addition to the Beilstein-Institut’s projects supporting communication and information in science. These online talks are free to attend; a simple registration is all that is required.

Implications and applications of local pH in electrocatalysis

Samuel S. Veroneau / University of Pennsylvania
April 16, 2026, 3–4 pm CEST

Online live talk

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Introduction

Electrochemistry can transform abundant resources like water and carbon dioxide into useful chemical and sustainable fuels. These reactions often involve protons, which are either consumed or produced at the surface of electrodes. The concentration of protons at the electrode (i.e., local pH) fundamentally governs the efficiency and selectivity of myriad electrochemical transformations (e.g., the oxygen evolution reaction [OER]). As more and more protons are consumed or produced during operation, however, this local pH can change dramatically. Taking bulk pH, buffer composition, and mass-transport into account, we develop an accessible and robust model for describing this local pH. Our model explores how pH gradients form and dissipate during operation, which we correspondingly validate using rotating (ring) disc electrodes. We may employ this model to predict the local pH over a wide range of current densities, including under industrially relevant conditions, and propose that dramatic changes in local pH may be inevitable regardless of bulk conditions. The complicating effects of morphology on local pH are further described to highlight how understanding and controlling this environment is crucial to improving the efficiency of electrochemical transformations.

👉 Go to the free registration for the online live talk!