Table 2 List of symbols and abbreviations used in this work

j_e

Electrical current density / A cm⁻²

j_M (M = Zn, Al, or Mg)

Equivalent elemental current density of M / A cm⁻²

j^s_M (M = Zn, Al or Mg)

j_M at near steady state in open circuit measurements / A cm⁻²

\({{{\rm{j}}}_{{\rm{H}}}}_{2}\)

Equivalent current density of hydrogen evolution reaction / A cm⁻²

j_Σ

Sum of the elemental dissolution current densities

z_M (M = Zn, Al, or Mg)

Oxidation state of element M

v_M (M = Zn, Al, or Mg)

Elemental dissolution rates of M / mol s⁻¹ cm⁻²

E

Electrochemical potential / V vs. SCE

E_j=0

Potential when j = 0 / V vs. SCE

E_c^Zn

Onset potential of Zn dissolution / V vs. SCE

E_oc

Open circuit potential / V vs. SCE

b_a, \({{\rm{j}}}_{{\rm{Zn}}}\)

Tafel slope determined from Zn dissolution rate / mV decade⁻¹

AESEC

Atomic emission spectroelectrochemistry

ICP-AES

Inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometer

LSV

Linear sweep voltammetry

AI

Artificial intelligence

ML

Machine learning

CALPHAD

CALculation of PHAse Diagrams

FEM

Finite element methods

LDH

Layered double hydroxide

OCP

Open circuit potential

SCE

Saturated calomel electrode

RDS

Rate-determining step

AHE

Anomalous hydrogen evolution

NCE

Negative correlation effect