A recent study conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) chemists has shed new light on the crucial chemical reaction that underpins various renewable energy technologies. The research provides detailed insights into the process of proton-coupled electron transfers at the surface of an electrode, offering potential for the design of more efficient fuel cells and electrolyzers.

Published in Nature Chemistry, the study marks a significant advancement in understanding the intricate nature of electron and proton coupling at surface sites, particularly relevant to catalytic reactions essential for energy conversion devices and processes.

Yogesh Surendranath, a professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at MIT and the senior author of the study, highlighted the importance of their findings, stating, ‘Our advance in this paper was studying and understanding the nature of how these electrons and protons couple at a surface site, which is relevant for catalytic reactions that are important in the context of energy conversion devices or catalytic reactions.’

The research team made notable discoveries regarding the impact of changes in the pH of the electrolyte solution surrounding an electrode on the rate of proton motion and electron flow within the electrode.

Lead author of the paper, MIT graduate student Noah Lewis, along with co-authors Ryan Bisbey, Karl Westendorff from MIT, and Alexander Soudackov from Yale University, collaborated on the study, which could potentially revolutionize the design and efficiency of energy technologies.

Proton-coupled electron transfer, a process involving the transfer of protons from one molecule to another or to an electrode surface, has been identified as a pivotal reaction in various energy applications. The study’s findings hold significant promise for the advancement of renewable energy technologies, given the widespread use of proton-coupled electron transfer reactions in this domain.