Abstract
Electrocatalytic properties of biomimetic supported incomplete cubane-type [Mo3S4](4+) clusters are investigated. The activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is evaluated on both a high surface area gas diffusion electrode in a membrane electrode assembly and on highly orientated pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) supports. Sub-monolayers of the clusters were imaged by means of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) prior to electrochemical characterization. This enabled the quantification of the activity on a per cluster basis for the HER and the comparison of the activity with other HER catalysts. We find that the HER activity of the [Mo3S4](4+) is comparable with that of the edge sites of MoS2. The supported [Mo3S4](4+) molecules were also characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the observed deterioration in electrocatalytic activity with time was assigned to slow [Mo3S4](4+) cathodic desorption from the catalyst support.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Physical Chemistry C |
Volume | 112 |
Issue number | 45 |
Pages (from-to) | 17492-17498 |
ISSN | 1932-7447 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |