Mechanism of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Mildly Acidic Environments on Gold

Despite numerous studies investigating the kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on a gold surface in acidic solutions, the underlying mechanism of this reaction have remained controversial to date. In the present study, the existing mechanisms are reevaluated and found to be inadequate in explaining the steady state polarization behavior of the hydrogen evolution reaction in an extended cathodic potentials and mildly acidic pH range. It was shown that a mechanism including a surface diffusion step of Hads alongside the Volmer, Heyrovsky, and Tafel elementary steps, best describes the experimental data obtained in acidic perchlorate solutions up to pH 5, while the rate determining step changes both with pH and electrode potential. This overall HER mechanism was further verified using a comprehensive mathematical model based on the proposed elementary steps, where a satisfactory agreement with experimental results was obtained.