Hidden in plain sight: unlocking the full potential of cyclic voltammetry with the thin-film rotating (ring) disk electrode studies for the investigation of oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts

Cyclic voltammetry conducted with a thin-film rotating disk electrode, or ring-disk electrode (CV-TF-R(R)DE) is a very popular ‘ex situ’ tool for the rapid screening of electrocatalysts for their activity in oxygen reduction reaction. Despite its popularity and broad use, in most instances only a small part of the information that could be accessed by CV-TFR(R)DE is actually used by scientists in their research. This work outlines both innovative and more traditional (but halfforgotten) ways of using CV-TF-R(R)DE to its optimal or full potential in the ongoing quest to study the most relevant features of oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts and quickly identify the most promising candidates for their applications in fuel cells or other electrochemical devices.