Multi-site electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution in neutral media by destabilization of water molecules

Cao-Thang Dinh, Ankit Jain, F. Pelayo García Arquer, Phil De Luna, Jun Li, Ning Wang, Xueli Zheng, Jun Cai, Benjamin Z. Gregory, Oleksandr Voznyy, Bo Zhang, Min Liu, David Sinton, Ethan J. Crumlin and Edward H. Sargent ()
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Cao-Thang Dinh: University of Toronto
Ankit Jain: University of Toronto
F. Pelayo García Arquer: University of Toronto
Phil De Luna: University of Toronto
Jun Li: University of Toronto
Ning Wang: University of Toronto
Xueli Zheng: University of Toronto
Jun Cai: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Benjamin Z. Gregory: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Oleksandr Voznyy: University of Toronto
Bo Zhang: University of Toronto
Min Liu: University of Toronto
David Sinton: University of Toronto
Ethan J. Crumlin: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Edward H. Sargent: University of Toronto

Nature Energy, 2019, vol. 4, issue 2, 107-114

Abstract: Abstract High-performance hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts are compelling for the conversion of renewable electricity to fuels and feedstocks. The best HER catalysts rely on the use of platinum and show the highest performance in acidic media. Efficient HER catalysts based on inexpensive and Earth-abundant elements that operate in neutral (hence biocompatible) media could enable low-cost direct seawater splitting and the realization of bio-upgraded chemical fuels. In the challenging neutral-pH environment, water splitting is a multistep reaction. Here we present a HER catalyst comprising Ni and CrOx sites doped onto a Cu surface that operates efficiently in neutral media. The Ni and CrOx sites have strong binding energies for hydrogen and hydroxyl groups, respectively, which accelerates water dissociation, whereas the Cu has a weak hydrogen binding energy, promoting hydride coupling. The resulting catalyst exhibits a 48 mV overpotential at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in a pH 7 buffer electrolyte. These findings suggest design principles for inexpensive, efficient and biocompatible catalytic systems.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0296-8

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