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Research Article

Multiscale engineering of molecular electrocatalysts for the rapid hydrogen evolution reaction

Huan Li1, Zhan Jiang1,2, Yubo Yuan1, Yirong Tang1, Jie Zao1, Wentao Zhang1, Peiyi Han1, Xun Zhang1, Bulin Chen1, Yongye Liang1( )
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, China
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Graphical Abstract

Multiscale engineering is conducted on molecular electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction to enhance intrinsic activity, charge transport, and mass transport. The optimized electrocatalyst of di(ethylene glycol)-substituted cobalt phthalocyanine molecules anchored on a three-dimensional self-supported electrode shows stable operation at −1000 mA/cm2.

Abstract

Molecular electrocatalysts have demonstrated potential for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to their well-defined structures and high intrinsic activities. Achieving rapid production of hydrogen requires molecular electrocatalysts to operate at high current densities, which still presents a challenge. In this work, we demonstrate that molecularly dispersed electrocatalysts of cobalt phthalocyanine anchored on carbon nanotubes (CoPc MDEs) are superior candidates due to the efficient charge transport between the substrate and the active site. The intrinsic activity can be enhanced by introducing functional groups on phthalocyanine. To facilitate mass transport, di(ethylene glycol) substituted CoPc molecules are further anchored on a three-dimensional self-supported electrode (CoPc-DEG MDE@CC), enabling continuous operation for 25 h at −1000 mA/cm2 in 1.0 M KOH. Our study demonstrates the potential of molecular electrocatalysts for HER and emphasizes the importance of adjusting intrinsic activity, and charge and mass transport capacity for practical molecular electrocatalysts.

Keywords

hydrogen evolution reactioncobalt phthalocyanineintrinsic activitymass transport

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Nano Research
Volume 17 Issue 7,
July 2024
Pages 6026-6031
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-024-6660-z
Cite this article:
Li H, Jiang Z, Yuan Y, et al. Multiscale engineering of molecular electrocatalysts for the rapid hydrogen evolution reaction. Nano Research, 2024, 17(7): 6026-6031. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6660-z
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Electrocatalysts

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Received: 12 January 2024
Revised: 22 March 2024
Accepted: 24 March 2024
Published: 13 May 2024
© Tsinghua University Press 2024
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