Bubble oscillation and effects of dynamic behaviors on forces and mass transfer in photoelectrochemical water splitting

The evolution and coverage of bubbles resulting from gas evolution at the reaction interface significantly impact mass transfer and the flow field within the photoelectrochemical water splitting system, posing a significant obstacle to overcoming the efficiency bottleneck of photoelectrochemical water splitting. In situ bubble observation can be realized via a coupled experimental system combining electrochemical measurements and high-speed imaging. The results indicate that bubble growth behavior correlates with system temperature and operating voltage; that is, the bubbles grow in an oscillating state on the electrode surface at the low operating voltage and high system temperature. Besides, the deviation amplitude of oscillating bubbles increases with system temperature yet decreases with operating voltage. The results indicate that the time coefficient of the growing bubble decreases, while the growth rate and gas evolution efficiency of the bubble increase with the increase of oscillating amplitude in the horizontal direction. The study of dynamic behaviors between the oscillating bubble and the contacted electrode reveals that the bubble oscillation is characterized by the periodic contraction and extension of the triple line. The mass transfer model of concentration boundary layer and the force model of oscillating bubble are constructed based on the interaction between the bubbles and the surrounding flow field. The mass transfer model has considered the microconvection caused by single-phase natural convection, gas-liquid interface expansion, and the oscillation of bubbles. Then through the force balance model, the solutal Marangoni force is found to gradually increase as the contact line extends outward.