Hydrogen evolution by a metal-free electrocatalyst

Yao Zheng, Yan Jiao, Yihan Zhu, Lu Hua Li, Yu Han, Ying Chen, Aijun Du, Mietek Jaroniec and Shi Zhang Qiao ()
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Yao Zheng: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide
Yan Jiao: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide
Yihan Zhu: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Lu Hua Li: Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University
Yu Han: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Ying Chen: Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University
Aijun Du: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology
Mietek Jaroniec: Kent State University
Shi Zhang Qiao: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Electrocatalytic reduction of water to molecular hydrogen via the hydrogen evolution reaction may provide a sustainable energy supply for the future, but its commercial application is hampered by the use of precious platinum catalysts. All alternatives to platinum thus far are based on nonprecious metals, and, to our knowledge, there is no report about a catalyst for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution beyond metals. Here we couple graphitic-carbon nitride with nitrogen-doped graphene to produce a metal-free hybrid catalyst, which shows an unexpected hydrogen evolution reaction activity with comparable overpotential and Tafel slope to some of well-developed metallic catalysts. Experimental observations in combination with density functional theory calculations reveal that its unusual electrocatalytic properties originate from an intrinsic chemical and electronic coupling that synergistically promotes the proton adsorption and reduction kinetics.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4783

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