Activation of inert Ag by nanoplasmonic synergy for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction. (29th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Ying-Chu; Chen, Ying-Zhen; Wang, Chih-Ming; Hsu, Yu-Kuei
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 48:Number 9(2023)
• Page Start: 3316
• Page End: 3327
• Publication Date: 2023-01-29
• Subjects: Photoelectrocatalyst -- Localized surface plasmon resonance -- Hydrogen evolution -- Silver -- Hot–electron transfer -- FDTD simulation; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.10.233
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: The application of Ag as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which holds promise to quench the worldwide thirst for clean energy source, is severely limited by its poor intrinsic activity. To address this issue, in the present contribution the Ag electrode is anodically etched, giving rise to the Ag nanocorals (NCs) consisted of closely interconnected Ag nanoparticles (NPs), between which the grain boundaries are flooded with coordinately unsaturated Ag atoms. Electrokinetic studies reveal that those under–coordinated Ag atoms stabilize the hydrogen intermediates bound to Ag NCs to facilitate the subsequent transfer of the hot electrons stemmed from the relaxation of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag NCs under visible and near–infrared (NIR) light illumination. As a result of such synergistic effect is HER over Ag NCs largely accelerated, resulting in the cathodic current density of 10 mA cm −2 readily turned on at an early overpotential η = 156 mV with respect to those of additional Ag-based electrocatalysts reported in the literature. Such outperformance unambiguously highlights the strong prospect of Ag NCs as an alternative photoelectrocatalyst, which additionally takes advantage of the incident light to boost HER, to the state–of–the–art Pt electrocatalytic counterpart for solar fuel production. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Ag NCs made of interconnected NPs is put forward as efficient HER electrocatalyst. Ag NCs exhibits a Tafel slope of 79 mV dec −1 and an overpotential (η10 ) of 156 mV. Mechanistic insight is provided by a microkinetic model coupled with FDTD simulation. Dissociated adsorption of H3 O + on Ag NCs is promoted by under–coordinated Ag atoms. HER is accelerated by LSPR–induced hot electrons of Ag NCs under light illumination.