Dynamic Stress Enhances Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Metals

Dynamic Stress Enhances Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Metals | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Dynamic Stress Enhances Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Metals Matteo Monai, Xiang Yu, Ettore Bianco, Hui Wang, Sander Deelen, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8869358/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Catalysts are a key enabling technology in the energy transition but are inherently limited in static operation. Strain is known to enhance catalytic performance by changing the electronic and geometric structure of active sites. Dynamically straining a catalyst can theoretically boost catalytic performance above the inherent limits of static catalysis. However, current approaches are not able to induce strain at the intermediate frequencies (10–1000 Hz) required to achieve this. In this study, we present a method to dynamically stress catalyst bodies at frequencies up to 1000 Hz using piezoelectric actuators. We demonstrate enhanced catalytic performance using dynamic stress in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) over metal foil electrodes, such as Cu, Pt, and Ni. We show that the HER current depends on the applied vibration frequency, intensity and duty cycle, and we introduce Mechano-Electrochemical Spectroscopy (MES) as a method to study the effect of dynamic stress on electrocatalytic performance. The current obtained under dynamic stress peaked at specific applied vibrational frequencies, reaching values up to 30 times the current under static operation on anodized Cu electrodes. Such peaks cannot be understood according to current resonant catalysis theory. Our results demonstrate that the phenomenon is due to faster electron transfer kinetics, and to strain amplification at certain frequencies for which the vertical vibration velocity in the catalyst is maximized, as shown by operando Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV). Being able to modulate surface strain over time holds the promise to form catalytic ratchets, which can in principle promote chemical reactions beyond static thermodynamic equilibrium, and steer catalytic selectivity to a desired product. We believe that this method has potential impact on developing better catalytic technologies in a number of (electro)chemical reactions for more sustainable chemical production. Physical sciences/Chemistry/Catalysis/Electrocatalysis Physical sciences/Chemistry/Catalysis/Catalytic mechanisms Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files YuetalDynamicStressSI2.docx Supplementary Information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8869358","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":607091808,"identity":"2a6269db-6ae6-4d92-aef6-773444c5a4db","order_by":0,"name":"Matteo 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Strain is known to enhance catalytic performance by changing the electronic and geometric structure of active sites. Dynamically straining a catalyst can theoretically boost catalytic performance above the inherent limits of static catalysis. However, current approaches are not able to induce strain at the intermediate frequencies (10–1000 Hz) required to achieve this. In this study, we present a method to dynamically stress catalyst bodies at frequencies up to 1000 Hz using piezoelectric actuators. We demonstrate enhanced catalytic performance using dynamic stress in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) over metal foil electrodes, such as Cu, Pt, and Ni. We show that the HER current depends on the applied vibration frequency, intensity and duty cycle, and we introduce Mechano-Electrochemical Spectroscopy (MES) as a method to study the effect of dynamic stress on electrocatalytic performance. The current obtained under dynamic stress peaked at specific applied vibrational frequencies, reaching values up to 30 times the current under static operation on anodized Cu electrodes. Such peaks cannot be understood according to current resonant catalysis theory. Our results demonstrate that the phenomenon is due to faster electron transfer kinetics, and to strain amplification at certain frequencies for which the vertical vibration velocity in the catalyst is maximized, as shown by operando Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV). Being able to modulate surface strain over time holds the promise to form catalytic ratchets, which can in principle promote chemical reactions beyond static thermodynamic equilibrium, and steer catalytic selectivity to a desired product. 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