Frontiers in Chemistry (Mar 2020)

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

  • Emma Westsson,
  • Stephen Picken,
  • Ger Koper

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.00163
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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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.

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