Langmuir, Vol.18, No.14, 5572-5578, 2002
Influence of the work function on electron transfer processes at metals: Application to the hydrogen evolution reaction
The exchange current density and the corresponding free energy of activation for the hydrogen evolution reaction at metal surfaces is estimated using the work function of the substrate, desolvation energy of the reactant, solvation numbers, and so forth. The computed values are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data for a large number of metals.