Fig. 4: Verification of gas species for the promotion of MBs.

a OER Polarization curves of Pt/Au electrode (1 × 1 cm2) with different gas species (with 100% iR correction and Rs = 3.63 ± 0.33 Ω). b HER Polarization curves of Pt/Au electrode (1 × 1 cm2) with different gas species (with 100% iR correction and Rs = 3.49 ± 0.249 Ω). c Time-dependent reflectivity variations of Pt/Au electrode with O2 NBs adsorption, where OCP refers to open circle potential and the black dashed line denotes the start of given potential (−0.01 V vs RHE). d Schematic illustration of the plausible mechanism for the cathodic H2 seed removal in the presence of O2. Note: The non-iR corrected LSV curves of 4A and 4B are provided in Supplementary Fig. S30. Source data for (a–c) are provided as a Source Data file.