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Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Using A Molecular Antimony Complex under Aqueous Conditions: An Experimental and
Caroline K Williams1, Gavin A McCarver2, Ashwin Chaturvedi1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210172, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 2, 2022
Summary
A novel main-group-element electrocatalyst, SbSalen, efficiently produces hydrogen gas via the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water. This discovery offers a promising, cost-effective route to carbon-neutral energy.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Electrocatalytic hydrogen production is key for carbon-neutral energy but requires efficient, affordable, and eco-friendly catalysts.
- Current catalysts often rely on expensive noble metals or lack stability and efficiency for widespread adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize a novel main-group-element-based electrocatalyst, SbSalen, for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
- To investigate the stability, efficiency, and mechanism of SbSalen in aqueous media for hydrogen production.
Main Methods:
- Electrochemical characterization of SbSalen for HER performance, including cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm catalyst stability before and after electrolysis.
- Computational methods to elucidate the kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the electrocatalytic process.
Main Results:
- SbSalen achieved 100% Faradaic efficiency at -1.4 V vs. NHE with a maximum current density of -30.7 mA/cm².
- XPS analysis confirmed the molecular integrity of SbSalen during catalysis, demonstrating excellent stability.
- A high turnover frequency of 43.4 s⁻¹ was calculated, indicating significant catalytic activity.
Conclusions:
- SbSalen is a highly efficient and stable main-group-element electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction in aqueous solution.
- This work provides crucial mechanistic insights into main-group catalysts for heterogeneous small-molecule conversions, paving the way for sustainable energy technologies.
Keywords:
antimonyelectrochemistryheterogenized catalysthydrogen evolution reactionmain-group elementMore Related Videos
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