The Effect of Magnetic Field on Catalytic Properties in Core-Shell Type Particles

• Main Authors: Emma Westsson, Stephen Picken, Ger Koper
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-03-01
• Series: Frontiers in Chemistry
• Subjects: magneto-electrocatalysis; fuel cell; electrochemistry; oxygen reduction (ORR); magnetic field—effects
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fchem.2020.00163/full

Magnetic field effects can provide a handle on steering chemical reactions and manipulating yields. The presence of a magnetic field can influence the energy levels of the active species by interacting with their spin states. Here we demonstrate the effect of a magnetic field on the electrocatalytic processes taking place on platinum-based nanoparticles in fuel cell conditions. We have identified a shift in the potentials representing hydrogen adsorption and desorption, present in all measurements recorded in the presence of a magnetic field. We argue that the changes in electrochemical behavior are a result of the interactions between the magnetic field and the unpaired spin states of hydrogen.