overpotential

[ oh-ver-puh-ten-shuhl ]

noun

, Electricity.

1. overvoltage.

Word History and Origins

Origin of overpotential¹

First recorded in 1915–20; over- + potential

Example Sentences

Upon carrying out electrocatalytic water splitting, the team observed that Ni-W5N4 alloy catalyzed the hydrogen evolution reaction, resulting in 10 mA/cm2 current density at a small overpotential of 11 mV.

From Science Daily

It showed a remarkable current density of 100 mA/cm2 at an overpotential of just 230 mV.

From Science Daily

In forward bias, it exhibited a current density of 11 mA/cm2 at 181 mV overpotential.

From Science Daily

A challenge for catalysis researchers is to combine the best of the biological and industrial approaches to nitrogen fixation — that is, to find a process that operates near ambient temperature and pressure, has minimal chemical overpotential, and does not require a capital-intensive plant to make ammonia on a large scale.

From Nature

Forming N–H bonds with molybdenum nitrido complexes poses a considerable thermodynamic challenge, because N–H bonds are also weakened when bound to molybdenum, as noted by our group10; this effect is a source of chemical overpotential.

From Nature