The value of the Tafel slope can provide insights into the reaction mechanism and the rate-determining step:
- Low Tafel Slope (~30 mV/decade): Indicates a fast electron transfer and suggests that the rate-determining step involves a single-electron transfer. - Intermediate Tafel Slope (~60 mV/decade): Suggests that the rate-determining step involves the transfer of a single proton or a proton-coupled electron transfer. - High Tafel Slope (>100 mV/decade): Indicates a more complex rate-determining step, possibly involving multiple electron or ion transfers.
