Different electrolytes may be used depending on your electrodes.
Some electrocatalysts are unstable under strong acid or alkaline electrolyte (i.e., they may dissolve in electrolyte under operations), hence a mild Na2SO4 is used which provides ionic conductivity to the circuit.
a. It is an inert electrolyte that does not react or interfere with the most of the target electrode or electrochemical reactions respectively.
b. I am assuming your work is related to photoelectrochemical water splitting. Lets assume that you are studying hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) where H+ ions are reduced to H2, and if your electrolyte already contains H+ ions then there is a question of the evolved H2 is due to water splitting or simply a H+ reduction that is already present in the electrolyte. To avoid this confusion a neutral electrolyte such as Na2SO4 is preferred compared to acid or alkaline electrolytes.