Interionic nature of synergism in catalysis and electrocatalysis

Fermi dynamics and the Brewer structural bonding factors have been employed to define synergism and electrocatalytic properties for hydrogen electrode reactions upon individual transition metals and their hypo-hyper-d-electronic combinations of intermetallic phases. It has clearly been shown and pointed out that electrocatalysis and its synergetic effect appear as the interionic interaction of hypo-hyper-d-electronic components either within metallic lattice, or upon the substrate surface. The induced external polarization or non-Faradaic (NEMCA) effect upon the electronic density of states and thereby advanced overall (electro)catalytic activity has been correlated with the basic catalytic properties and emphasized, too. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.