Pd₇Se₂ nanospheres as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Palladium selenides exist in various binary phases, with Pd₇Se₂ being palladium-rich.
• A high palladium content in catalysts can enhance catalytic activity and performance.
• Limited research exists on the synthesis and applications of Pd₇Se₂.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize palladium-rich Pd₇Se₂ nanospheres.
• To evaluate the electrocatalytic performance of Pd₇Se₂ for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
• To establish a novel single molecular precursor for Pd₇Se₂ synthesis.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Pd₇Se₂ nanospheres using PdCl₂(Ph₂Se)₂ as a single molecular precursor.
• Characterization using High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), SEM-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Powder X-ray Diffraction (P-XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA).
• Electrocatalytic testing for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized electrocatalytically active palladium-rich Pd₇Se₂ nanospheres.
• Achieved an overpotential of only 162 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 for HER.
• Obtained a low Tafel slope of 37 mV dec^-1 and demonstrated stability for over 30 hours during HER.

Conclusions:

• Pd₇Se₂ nanospheres are effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
• The developed single molecular precursor facilitates easy synthesis of Pd₇Se₂.
• This research presents a promising new nanomaterial for efficient and stable hydrogen production.