Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Two Co(II)/Ni(II) complexes based on nitrogenous heterocyclic ligands as high-performance electrocatalysts for the
Rong-Fang Li1, Heng Zhang1,2, Man-Zhou Hong1,2
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Henan Key Laboratory of Function Oriented Porous Materials, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471022, China. fengx@lynu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Two transition metal complexes {[Co2(bpda)4(H2O)2]·4H2O}(Co-1) and {[Ni(bpda)2(H2O)2]·2H2O}(Ni-2) (H2bpda = 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method and characterized. These two compounds can be explored as stable electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using two important parameters: the overpotential and Tafel slope (TS). Electrochemical studies suggest that the reaction kinetics of a Co-1 catalyst is more favorable than that of a Ni-2 catalyst. Co-1 exhibits better HER performance with an overpotential of 182 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, a small TS of 87.21 mV dec-1 and superior long-term durability (of up to 3000 cycles). Structural analysis shows that its catalytic activity is improved due to the two mixed valence cobalt ions and the pore structure formed by hydrogen bonds in Co-1, which is different from that of Ni-2. In addition, the mechanism of the HER is also explained theoretically by DFT molecular orbital and free energy calculations in this article.
More Related Videos
08:40Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
![Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F55858.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
10:01Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase
Published on: December 4, 2017
Related Concept Videos
02:50Catalysis
01:26Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
01:24Electron Carriers
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
01:43Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
02:34Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...