Utilizing the magnetic properties of electrodes and magnetic fields in electrocatalysis

Abstract

Progress in understanding and controlling electrocatalytic reactions will enable electrochemistry to have a prominent role in our future energy economy in diverse sectors such as batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers. Complementary to advancements made by materials chemistry, surface chemistry, and engineering in electrocatalytic systems, magnetic fields have recently been reexplored as a handle to improve the activity and selectivity metrics in electrocatalytic reactions. The intrinsic magnetism of electrocatalysts and external magnetic fields can be utilized to introduce new reaction pathways and enhance electrocatalytic activity. In this review, we first provide a brief introduction to the primary mechanisms by which magnetic fields have been postulated to affect and enhance electrochemical reactions. We then discuss select literature examples that demonstrate improvements in electrocatalytic energy conversion and storage reactions in the presence of magnetic fields. Literature reports and magnetic field effects are organized by the magnetic properties of electrocatalysts: diamagnetic, paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic. With the growing number of reports on magneto-electrocatalysis, we anticipate that magnetic fields will enable new discoveries and greater tunability in electrocatalysis including and beyond energy-relevant chemistry.