Cathodic corrosion is an electrochemical etching process that alters metallic surfaces by creating nanoparticles and a variety of etching features. Because these features typically have a preferential orientation, cathodic corrosion can be applied to modify and nanostructure electrode surfaces. However, this application of cathodic corrosion is currently limited by an insufficient chemical understanding of its underlying mechanism. This includes the role of alkali metal cations, which are thought to be crucial in both enabling cathodic corrosion and controlling its final facet preference. This work addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the cathodic corrosion of Pt, Rh, and Au in LiOH, NaOH, and KOH through both experimental and theoretical methods. These methods demonstrate that cations are adsorbed during cathodic corrosion and play a major role in controlling the onset potential and final surface morphology in cathodic corrosion. Interestingly, an equally significant role appears to be played by adsorbed hydrogen, based on calculations using literature density functional theory data. Considering the significance of both hydrogen and electrolyte cations, it is hypothesized that cathodic corrosion might proceed via an intermediate ternary metal hydride. This fundamental insight leads to both metal-specific recommendations and more general guidelines for applying cathodic corrosion to structure metallic surfaces.

The interest in electrochemical processes to produce ammonia has increased in recent years. The motivation for this increase is the attempt to reduce the carbon emissions associated with its production, since ammonia is responsible for 1.8% of the global CO2 emissions. Moreover, green ammonia is also seen as a possible transportation fuel in various renewable energy transition scenarios. Several electrochemical processes are being investigated such as N2, NO3–, or NO conversion. Since nitrates are an attractive source of nitrogen, due to their role as water contaminants and facility to break N‐O bonds, this mini review is focused on the electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia from NO3− reduction. Here, we summarized the important work on reaction mechanisms and electrocatalysts for this reaction.

Novel electrodes for the electroreduction of CO2 were prepared by the electrodeposition of copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) catalytic films on a gas diffusion layer. Different electrodes were prepared by varying the deposition time, corresponding to catalyst loadings of 0.37, 0.74, 2.22, 3.70 mg cm−2 and a total charge density of 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 C cm−2, respectively. The electrodes were characterized with SEM, XRD, and UPD. The effect of catalyst loading on the selectivity towards ethylene was investigated in an alkaline flow electrolyzer under ambient conditions. The electrodes were found to be highly selective (>60 %) towards ethylene. The 1 C cm−2 electrode reached Faradaic efficiency values as high as 67 % at industrially relevant current densities of 183 mA cm−2, −0.8 V cathode overpotential and 36 % cell energy efficiency. This performance was attributed to the interplaying role of applied potential, local pH, availability of active sites, and reduced CO2 mass transport limitations.

Organic carbonates are considered environmentally benign alternatives for various fossil-derived compounds used in the chemical industry. Replacing current costly and toxic production methods by greener alternatives offers opportunities to cover...

The interaction of In and Pd in bimetallic particles causes dramatic changes in the CO₂ reduction behavior.