Promoting Electrochemical Reversibility: Concave versus Convex Electrodes

The importance of electrode shape, alongside electrode size, as key factors in controlling the reversibility or otherwise of electrochemical responses, is recognized at the microscopic level but is explored here via finite-element simulation on the macroscopic scale. Reduced overpotential is seen for concave surfaces relative to flat or convex surfaces, providing an unexplored avenue for the design and fabrication of electrodes, including composites for diverse applications where enhanced reversibility is desirable, such as in sensors and battery materials where the promotion of electrocatalytic responses is important.