Title:    Mass-transport Effects in Electrocatalysis

Time:     2025-04-30 10:30

Lecturer:  Alexander V. Rudnev

A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Russia

Venue:    Lecture Hall, Energy Materials Building 3, Xiang'an Campus

Abstract：

Mass-transport limitations are a critical factor to consider when studying the kinetics of electrochemical processes and comparing the activity of different catalysts. This is especially true in studies involving dispersed, rough, and/or porous catalysts, and when low concentrations of reactants are used. While a high surface concentration of active sites is often a key criterion for efficient catalysis, in mass transport-limited reactions, the observed current densities may not accurately reflect the intrinsic catalytic activity of a material. Instead, they often represent the extent of surface dispersion. The electrooxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) serves as an excellent case study to highlight the influence of solution composition on optimizing conversion. Among biomass-derived compounds, HMF is a promising platform chemical for producing value-added products—particularly FDCA, a crucial precursor for bio-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF) plastics. This electrocatalytic transformation has gained attention as a green and efficient alternative to conventional anode reactions in power-to-value electrolyzer systems. The study focuses on the pivotal role of alkalinity and the OH⁻/HMF concentration ratio in determining the performance of NiOOH-based electrocatalysts for the electrochemical oxidation of HMF under mass-transport-limited conditions.