Numerical Frumkin isotherm model

Accessing the Inaccessible: Analyzing the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in the Diffusion Limit

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b13902
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 38176−38180

Description

The ORR current in the absence of mass-transport is modelled with a site blocking model. We assume that the current is proportional to the coverage of free sites squared, since the dissociation of O2 could be the rate-determining step under high overpotentials. The coverage of free sites sites varies with potential, because protons and anions in the electrolyte can block the active sites. The model predicts a current-potential (I-V) profile from five parameters: The adsorption energy and particle-particle repulsion energy for H and Cl, as-well as a proportionality factor between the current and the free sites squared. By varying the parameters, the I-V profile can be fitted to experimental results, and the best-fit parameters can be compared to DFT values. The model predicts I-V profiles for varying electrolyte concentrations and can readily be extended to other systems.

The model is described in detail in the supplementary information of the paper.

Download scripts and experimental data

isotherms.py generates the ORR current and the H, Cl and free sites squared isotherms.

plotting.py generates the following two plots

Fitted and experimental ORR currents in absence of mass-transport

H adsorption isotherm to the left, Free sites squared in the center, and Cl adsorption isotherm to the right