How does electrocatalysis reduce the energy needed for an electrochemical reaction?

Electrocatalysis reduces the energy required for an electrochemical reaction by decreasing the overpotential needed to achieve a specific reaction rate. While the basic step of electron transfer is generally independent of the metal substrate, reactions involving the formation of chemical bonds between the electrode surface and intermediate species are highly dependent on the substrate's properties.1

The catalytic effect is determined by the strength of the bonds formed between these intermediate species and the electrode surface. If the bond is too weak, the catalytic effect is minimal; if it is too strong, the intermediate becomes too stable to react further, effectively blocking the surface. Therefore, electrocatalysis functions by providing an optimum bond strength that facilitates the reaction, effectively lowering the activation energy required for the process to proceed.12

By optimizing these surface interactions, electrocatalysis allows reactions to occur at a given rate with less energy input, which is of significant practical importance for the economics of electrochemical processes.1