electrocatalysis

Electrocatalysis is a field within chemistry that focuses on increasing the rate of electrochemical reactions by using a catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. In electrocatalysis, the electrode itself acts as the substrate for the reaction, and its properties influence the reaction rate.123

Electrochemical reactions involve the transfer of electrons between an electrode and a species in solution. These reactions are fundamental to processes like fuel cells, where chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. Complex electrochemical reactions can involve multiple electron transfers and chemical steps, with one step often determining the overall reaction rate. Electrocatalysis is crucial for making electrochemical processes more economical by reducing the energy required to drive these reactions.451