Local Surface Structure and Composition Control the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Iron Nickel Sulfides.

Authors :: Bentley CL
Andronescu C
Smialkowski M
Kang M
Tarnev T
Marler B
Unwin PR
Apfel UP
Schuhmann W
Source :: Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English) [Angew Chem Int Ed Engl] 2018 Apr 03; Vol. 57 (15), pp. 4093-4097. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Mar 09.
Publication Year :: 2018
Abstract: In order to design more powerful electrocatalysts, developing our understanding of the role of the surface structure and composition of widely abundant bulk materials is crucial. This is particularly true in the search for alternative hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts to replace platinum. We report scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) measurements of the (111)-crystal planes of Fe <subscript>4.5</subscript> Ni <subscript>4.5</subscript> S <subscript>8</subscript> , a highly active HER catalyst. In combination with structural characterization methods, we show that this technique can reveal differences in activity arising from even the slightest compositional changes. By probing electrochemical properties at the nanoscale, in conjunction with complementary structural information, novel design principles are revealed for application to rational material synthesis.<br /> (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

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