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Catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction on "metal-free" graphene: key role of metallic impurities
Lu Wang1, Zdeněk Sofer2, Martin Pumera3
1Materials Chemistry and Nanochemistry Research Group, Solar Fuels Cluster, Departments of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada.
Abstract:
Molecular hydrogen is widely considered as a potential carbon-free and renewable energy carrier for a sustainable energy strategy. The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is a major pathway to obtain ultra-pure hydrogen, and it vastly relies on the development of inexpensive electrocatalysts. In recent years, graphene has been proposed as a "metal-free" catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, we showed that metallic impurities are introduced during the synthesis process and these impurities act as the catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction.