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Polyoxometalates 2023, 2(4): 9140031 https://doi.org/10.26599/POM.2023.9140031
Review Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 19 August 2023

Atomically precise Au nanoclusters for electrochemical hydrogen evolution catalysis: Progress and perspectives

Show Author's Information Xin Zhu,  Leyi Chen,  Yonggang Liu,  Zhenghua Tang ( )
New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China
Keywords:
hydrogen evolution reaction, structure–performance relationship, model catalysts, atomically precise Au nanoclusters, progress and perspectives
Cite this article:
Zhu X, Chen L, Liu Y, et al. Atomically precise Au nanoclusters for electrochemical hydrogen evolution catalysis: Progress and perspectives. Polyoxometalates, 2023, 2(4): 9140031. https://doi.org/10.26599/POM.2023.9140031
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Abstract Full text About this article

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a vital step in water electrolysis toward H2 production. However, conventional nanocatalysts lack uniform size, composition, structure, and a homogeneous chemical coordination environment, causing the retrieval of an unambiguous structure–performance relationship to be extremely challenging. Owing to its ultra-small size, definitive composition, well-defined structure, and uniform chemical environment at the atomic level, atomically precise Au nanoclusters can serve as a model catalyst to improve understanding of the relationship between the structure and its catalytic properties. First, this review describes the fundamental mechanism and significance of HER and highlights the unique advantages of employing Au nanoclusters as a model catalyst. Then, the recent progress involving the promotion and catalysis of HER by Au and Au-alloy nanoclusters is discussed, with a focus on elaborating the structure–performance relationship. The key factors affecting the catalytic performance, including but not limited to the electronic interaction, interfacial effect, size effect, charge state, ligand effect, metal core composition, single-atom doping, and geometric configuration effect, are analyzed with explicit examples. Finally, the current critical challenges involved in this process and future perspectives are discussed. We hope that this review can shed light on the design of efficient and stable coinage metal-nanocluster-based catalysts toward electrochemical H2 production and beyond.


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About this article

Atomically precise Au nanoclusters for electrochemical hydrogen evolution catalysis: Progress and perspectives

Show Author's information Xin Zhu, Leyi Chen, Yonggang Liu, Zhenghua Tang ( )
New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China

Abstract

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a vital step in water electrolysis toward H2 production. However, conventional nanocatalysts lack uniform size, composition, structure, and a homogeneous chemical coordination environment, causing the retrieval of an unambiguous structure–performance relationship to be extremely challenging. Owing to its ultra-small size, definitive composition, well-defined structure, and uniform chemical environment at the atomic level, atomically precise Au nanoclusters can serve as a model catalyst to improve understanding of the relationship between the structure and its catalytic properties. First, this review describes the fundamental mechanism and significance of HER and highlights the unique advantages of employing Au nanoclusters as a model catalyst. Then, the recent progress involving the promotion and catalysis of HER by Au and Au-alloy nanoclusters is discussed, with a focus on elaborating the structure–performance relationship. The key factors affecting the catalytic performance, including but not limited to the electronic interaction, interfacial effect, size effect, charge state, ligand effect, metal core composition, single-atom doping, and geometric configuration effect, are analyzed with explicit examples. Finally, the current critical challenges involved in this process and future perspectives are discussed. We hope that this review can shed light on the design of efficient and stable coinage metal-nanocluster-based catalysts toward electrochemical H2 production and beyond.

Keywords: hydrogen evolution reaction, structure–performance relationship, model catalysts, atomically precise Au nanoclusters, progress and perspectives

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Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements
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Publication history

Received: 29 June 2023
Revised: 20 July 2023
Accepted: 01 August 2023
Published: 19 August 2023
Issue date: December 2023

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2023. Polyoxometalates published by Tsinghua University Press.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Y. G. L. gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the Basic Research and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangzhou (No. 202201010650). Z. H. T. acknowledges the financial support from Guangdong Natural Science Funds (No. 2022A1515011840).

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