The Interrelated Effect of Cations and Electrolyte pH on the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Gold Electrodes in Alkaline Media

The kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at gold electrodes is affected by concentration alkali metal cations and electrolyte pH. At moderately alkaline pH, increasing cation greatly enhances HER activity. Cations are proposed to help stabilize transition state rate-determining Volmer step a favorable interaction with dissociating water molecule (*H–OHδ−–cat+).