Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5146338 | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy | 2017 | 6 Pages |
â¢A water-soluble copper electrocatalyst 1 was developed for hydrogen production.â¢Electrocatalyst 1 performs in a neutral aqueous solution at a low overpotential.â¢Stable copper complex functions as a molecular electrocatalyst.â¢Low overpotential & water solubility of 1 facilitates a photocatalytic application.
A water-soluble polypyridine copper complex Cu(dpp)(ClO4)2 (1, dpp = 2,9-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,10-Phenanthroline) enables to electrocatalyze H2 generation from neutral phosphate buffer solution at a relatively low overpotential of 520 mV vs. SHE. Sustained proton reduction catalysis occurs at glassy carbon electrode at â1.4 V vs. SHE for 2 h to give H2 with TONs of 734 mol H2 (mol catalyst)â1 cmâ2 and 95% Faradaic yield. CVs, UV-Vis spectra, SEM, EDX and Tyndall analysis reveals that 1 has the desired stability and functions as a molecular electrocatalyst under the conditions. Due to the relatively low overpotential and high stability, light-driven hydrogen production based on 1 were also carried out with a TONs of 6 mol H2 (mol catalyst)â1 in an aqueous solution.
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