Electroanalytic effects of ultrasound on a hydrogen evolution reaction in KOH

Due to the sun's intermittent nature, there must be energy storage on a large scale in order for solar energy to provide society's energy needs. One way to store this energy would be producing hydrogen through an electrochemical reaction. It has long been known that ultrasonic irradiation has positive effects in electrochemistry. However, the exact mechanisms that produce these effects are unknown. Much of the literature on the subject focuses on measuring product amounts after a number of minutes or hours. The following work uses linear scan voltammetry and chronoamperometry to analyze a hydrogen evolution reaction in KOH. The results indicate a strong, positive effect due to ultrasonic irradiation. Other processes that convert light directly into hydrogen, such as photoelectrochemical cells, can also benefit from this research.