TY  - JOUR
AU  - Li, Huan
AU  - Jiang, Zhan
AU  - Yuan, Yubo
AU  - Tang, Yirong
AU  - Zao, Jie
AU  - Zhang, Wentao
AU  - Han, Peiyi
AU  - Zhang, Xun
AU  - Chen, Bulin
AU  - Liang, Yongye
PY  - 2024
TI  - Multiscale engineering of molecular electrocatalysts for the rapid hydrogen evolution reaction
JO  - Nano Research
SN  - 1998-0124
SP  - 6026
EP  - 6031
VL  - 17
IS  - 7
AB  - 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.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6660-z
DO  - 10.1007/s12274-024-6660-z