Electrochemical processes play a significant role in driving innovation in important sustainable applications like hydrogen generation and energy storage. However, much remains to be discovered about how these reactions can be fine-tuned at the molecular level, even after substantial recent advances. A recent work by scientists from Ruhr-University Bochum and École Normale Supérieure in The Journal of the American Chemical Society presents new strategies to precisely control electrochemical processes owing to acid-base reactions at metal-water interfaces that are charged.

The proposed study will help better comprehend how local hydrophobicity and electric fields at such interfaces control proton transfer processes—which could hold potential solutions to enhance the electrochemical processes. The researchers believed that by studying the behavior of the glycine molecules, they could find new ways of controlling reactivity in applications involving catalysis, hydrogen production and other renewable energy-related techniques.

Protonation and Deprotonation at Metal-Water Interfaces

To explore these mechanisms, the research team conducted a detailed analysis of the protonation and deprotonation behavior of glycine at a gold/water interface. By employing the Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) technique, they could monitor the relationship between glycine and the electrified metal surface of different applied voltages.

The team specifically focused on two factors: local hydrophobicity at the metal-water interface and electric fields generated by the metal surface and the interfacial water. These factors were controlled by varying the potential applied across the membrane to enable the researchers to examine the effect of the proton transfer process.

One of the most important conclusions was associated with the behavior of the hydrophobic layer at the interface. These conditions produce different solvation than bulk solutions, and the zwitterionic form of glycine becomes destabilized even at low voltage. When the external applied voltage was increased, the local electric field enhanced the protonation and deprotonation of glycine to change between its different molecular forms.

Proposed mechanism tuning acid-base chemistry at electrified metal–water interfaces. From left to right, the sketches illustrate that local hydrophobicity at the interface destabilizes the zwitterionic form of glycine, i.e., the pH window where it exists is reduced with respect to bulk, already at low applied voltages. By further varying the applied voltage at fixed pH conditions, the additional local electric fields generated by both the metal surface and interfacial water induce proton transfer that either deprotonates (at negative voltages) or protonates (at positive voltages) the glycine zwitterion. (Murke et al., 2024)

The results of the study present a new paradigm for understanding and manipulating protonation and deprotonation at electrified interfaces that may usher in revolutionary changes to renewable energy technology. Researchers can then control the local hydrophobicity, and the overall electric field to fine-tune real-time reaction conditions leading to better hydrogen generation and catalytic reactions. With this understanding, reactions can be adjusted at the molecular level of electrodes in the process of electrochemical deposition, thus addressing technological challenges in the production of sustainable energy.

BASi: Empowering the Future of Electrochemical Research

To fully seize on these revolutionary ideas, scientists need high-fidelity tools that would help them probe and manipulate these effects at the molecular interface.  BASi (Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.), as the new partner of MSE Supplies, has been a producer of electrochemical research tools for more than 40 years and possesses all the required equipment that can meet this demand.

With the ability to control applied voltage and study reaction mechanisms in great detail, BASi’s potentiostats, galvanostats, and accessories allow scientists to replicate and fine-tune electrochemical conditions such as those observed in the Bochum study. Whether you're researching proton transfer mechanisms or optimizing catalysts for renewable energy technologies, BASi’s instruments provide the accuracy and flexibility you need to push your research further.

This ability to control both the applied voltage and study reaction mechanisms in such great detail makes BASi potentiostats, galvanostats, and accessories well-suited for replicating detailed electrochemical conditions, making it easier for the researcher to reach their desired goals in electrochemistry. Whether you are investigating the proton transfer processes or improving catalysts for renewable energy systems, our instruments allow you to get just the accurate and versatile data for your progress.

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• Potentiostats & Galvanostats: Perfect for the management of voltage and for investigations of the reactions under changing electrochemical conditions,
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BASi is known across the world for manufacturing quality electrochemistry tools, and as a distributor for these products as they are, MSE Supplies takes pride in supplying the scientists with latest and advanced tools that can be used to advance the field of electrochemistry further. For optimizing reaction conditions and even searching for brand new catalytic pathways, BASi’s instruments are advanced enough to enable major leaps forward in the millennium science.

Call us today to find out how BASi’s electrochemical instruments can support the next research breakthrough. For the most up-to-date information and insights, please follow us on LinkedIn.

Sources:

1. Ruhr-University Bochum. (2024, April 11). New ways to fine-tune electrochemistry. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 24, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240411130219.htm
2. Murke, S., Chen, W., Pezzotti, S., & Havenith, M. (2024). Tuning Acid-Base chemistry at an electrified Gold/Water interface. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 146(18), 12423–12430. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c13633