South Korean Team Shows Localized Electric Field Can Raise Desired ORR Pathway Share from 12% to 52% Without Altering Catalyst

Researchers at POSTECH and Seoul National University increased the share of the desired reaction pathway in the oxygen reduction reaction from roughly 12 percent to as much as 52 percent by placing positively charged ions near an unchanged catalyst.

The team, led by Professor Seung Jun Hwang of POSTECH and Professor Jaeyune Ryu of Seoul National University, showed that the localized electric field created by the cations steers the reaction without altering the catalyst structure itself. ZeroHedge reported the findings on June 3, 2026.

The oxygen reduction reaction is the core process that generates electricity in hydrogen fuel cells from hydrogen and oxygen and in metal-air batteries that draw oxygen from the atmosphere. Experiments demonstrated that adjusting the electrical environment around the catalyst raised the proportion of the preferred four-electron pathway while lowering the energy required for the reaction.

"This study demonstrates that reaction properties can be precisely controlled solely through the surrounding electrical environment, without changing the structure of the catalyst itself," said Hwang.

The researchers said the same principle could be applied to catalysts used for carbon dioxide conversion and environmentally friendly hydrogen production. "We expect it to present a new direction for developing next-generation batteries, fuel cells, and eco-friendly energy catalyst technologies," Hwang added. The study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.