Measuring Electrochemical Surface Area of Nanomaterials versus the Randles−Ševčík Equation

• Published in: ChemElectroChem Vol. 7; no. 16; pp. 3414 - 3415
• Main Author: Paixão, Thiago R. L. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim John Wiley & Sons, Inc 17.08.2020
• Subjects: current enhancement; electrocatalysis; electrode surface area; Nanomaterials; Randles−Ševčík equation; Standard error; Surface area
• ISSN: 2196-0216; 2196-0216
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.202000633

This Viewpoint article is to call the attention of the nanomaterials community to a standard error when using the Randles−Ševčík equation to calculate the electrode surface area, as this error is continuously reported in the literature and the idea is to complete the conversation about the critical discussion based on the duality of electrocatalytic performance of nanomaterials and surface area in order to understand the electrocatalytic effect of these materials and not to simply attribute the current enhancement on the basis of an increase in surface area. Catching the mistake: A standard error occurs when using the Randles−Ševčík equation to calculate the electrode surface area, and this error is continuously reported in the literature. This Viewpoint aims to complete the critical discussion surrounding the duality of the electrocatalytic performance of nanomaterials and surface area in order to understand the electrocatalytic effect of these materials and to not simply attribute the current enhancement on the basis of an increase in surface area.