Publication date: 26th March 2026
Oxygen electrocatalysis plays a central role in green hydrogen production and utilisation, yet significant challenges remain in understanding and controlling activity, stability, and selectivity under operating conditions. Tailoring the structure of the electrochemical interface is key to establishing structure-property relationships and elucidating reaction mechanisms in electrocatalysis [1]. Fundamental studies on well-defined electrified interfaces provide essential insights into the factors governing oxygen reduction [2] and evolution reactions (ORR and OER), particularly in acidic media relevant to proton exchange membrane fuel cells and water electrolysers.
In this talk, I will present strategies to probe and engineer the electrode–electrolyte interface, focusing on the role of the electric double-layer structure and electrolyte composition. I will discuss our work on platinum-based catalysts for ORR and iridium-based nanostructured catalysts for OER [2-4], highlighting the influence of electrolyte anions and pH on catalytic performance. I will also address the importance and challenges of accurately assessing the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) [5]. Finally, I will show how concepts derived from oxygen electrocatalysis can be extended to emerging electrochemical oxidation reactions, such as methane conversion [6], where controlling the interface is key to achieving selective transformations, thereby bridging green hydrogen production with next-generation electrochemical processes.
References
[1] P. Sebastián-Pascual, A. Herzog, Y. Zhang, Y. Shao-Horn, M. Escudero-Escribano, Nature Catalysis 2025, 8, 986.
[2] M. Escudero-Escribano et al., Science 2016, 352, 73.
[3] A.W. Jensen et al., Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2020, 8, 1066.
[4] J.A. Arminio-Ravelo, A.W. Jensen, K.D. Jensen, J. Quinson, M. Escudero-Escribano, ChemPhysChem 2019, 20, 2956.
[5] J.B.V. Mygind, M. Rost, M. Escudero-Escribano, ACS Energy Letters 2026, 11, 2508.
[6] J.A. Arminio-Ravelo, S. Favero, M. Escudero-Escribano, ACS Energy Letters 2025, 10, 4842.
This work was supported by project 2023 CLIMA 00064, funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya through the Department of Research and Universities, the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, and the Climate Fund, as well as by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme (ATOMISTIC, Grant Agreement No. 101045778).
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