Three of the fundamental catalytic limitations that have plagued the electrochemical production of hydrogen for decades still remain: low efficiency, short lifetime of catalysts and a lack of low-cost materials. Here, we address these three challenges by establishing and exploring an intimate functional link between the reactivity and stability of crystalline (CoS2 and MoS2) and amorphous (CoSx and MoSx) hydrogen evolution catalysts. We propose that Co(2+) and Mo(4+) centres promote the initial discharge of water (alkaline solutions) or hydronium ions (acid solutions). We establish that although CoSx materials are more active than MoSx they are also less stable, suggesting that the active sites are defects formed after dissolution of Co and Mo cations. By combining the higher activity of CoSx building blocks with the higher stability of MoSx units into a compact and robust CoMoSx chalcogel structure, we are able to design a low-cost alternative to noble metal catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic production of hydrogen in both alkaline and acidic environments.
Water and oxygen electrochemistry lies at the heart of interfacial processes controlling energy transformations in fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries. Here, by comparing results for the ORR obtained in alkaline aqueous media to those obtained in ultra-dry organic electrolytes with known amounts of H 2 O added intentionally, we propose a new rationale in which water itself plays an important role in determining the reaction kinetics. This effect derives from the formation of HO ad ···H 2 O (aqueous solutions) and LiO 2 ···H 2 O (organic solvents) complexes that place water in a configurationally favorable position for proton transfer to weakly adsorbed intermediates. We also find that even at low concentrations (<10 ppm), water acts simultaneously as a promoter and as a catalyst in the production of Li 2 O 2 , regenerating itself through a sequence of steps that include the formation and recombination of H + and OH -. We conclude that although the binding energy between metal surfaces and oxygen intermediates is an important descriptor in electrocatalysis, understanding the role of water as a proton-donor reactant may explain many anomalous features in electrocatalysis at metal-liquid interfaces.
The oxygen reduction reaction is of major importance in energy conversion and storage. Controlling electrocatalytic activity and its selectivity remains a challenge of modern electrochemistry. Here, first principles calculations and analysis of experimental data unravel the mechanism of this reaction on Au-Pd nanoalloys in acid media. A mechanistic model is proposed from comparison of the electrocatalysis of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide reduction on different Au-Pd ensembles. A H2O production channel on contiguous Pd sites proceeding through intermediates different from H2O2 and OOH(σ) adsorbate is identified as the bifurcation point for the two reaction pathway alternatives to yield either H2O or H2O2. H2O2 is a leaving group, albeit reduction of H2O2 to H2O can occur by electrocatalytic HO-OH dissociation that is affected by the presence of adsorbed OOH(σ). Similarities and differences between electrochemical and direct synthesis from H2 + O2 reaction on Au-Pd nanoalloys are discussed.
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