Oxygen reduction at platinum electrodes: The interplay between surface and surroundings properties

In this work, recent progress in the understanding of the mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction at Pt surfaces is shortly reviewed. Specifically, the presence of a soluble and short-lived intermediate different to H2O2 in the ORR reaction path and the interrelated effect between the surface arrangement, adsorption of oxygen-containing species and water structure in the ORR reactivity in acid environments are discussed. Besides, the influence of the proton concentration on the ORR product distribution, the existence of a chemical step and the possible role of the soluble intermediate as a bifurcation point in the mechanism are also analyzed.