Journal article

Authors list: Piontek, S; Andronescu, C; Zaichenko, A; Konkena, B; Puring, KJ; Marler, B; Antoni, H; Sinev, I; Muhler, M; Mollenhauer, D; Cuenya, BR; Schuhmann, W; Apfel, UP

Publication year: 2018

Pages: 987-996

Journal: ACS Catalysis

Volume number: 8

Issue number: 2

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.7b02617

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Abstract: 

Inspired by our recent finding that Fe_4.5Ni_4.5S₈
rock is a highly active electrocatalyst for HER, we set out to explore
the influence of the Fe:Ni ratio on the performance of the catalyst. We
herein describe the synthesis of (Fe_xNi_1–x)₉S₈ (x
= 0–1) along with a detailed elemental composition analysis.
Furthermore, using linear sweep voltammetry, we show that the increase
in the iron or nickel content, respectively, lowers the activity of the
electrocatalyst toward HER. Electrochemical surface area analysis (ECSA)
clearly indicates the highest amount of active sites for a Fe:Ni ratio
of 1:1 on the electrode surface pointing at an altered surface
composition of iron and nickel for the other materials. Specific
metal–metal interactions seem to be of key importance for the high
electrocatalytic HER activity, which is supported by DFT calculations of
several surface structures using the surface energy as a descriptor of
catalytic activity. In addition, we show that a temperature increase
leads to a significant decrease of the overpotential and gain in HER
activity. Thus, we showcase the necessity to investigate the material
structure, composition and reaction conditions when evaluating
electrocatalysts.

Harvard Citation style: Piontek, S., Andronescu, C., Zaichenko, A., Konkena, B., Puring, K., Marler, B., et al. (2018) Influence of the Fe:Ni Ratio and Reaction Temperature on the Efficiency of (FexNi1–x)9S8 Electrocatalysts Applied in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction, ACS Catalysis, 8(2), pp. 987-996. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.7b02617

APA Citation style: Piontek, S., Andronescu, C., Zaichenko, A., Konkena, B., Puring, K., Marler, B., Antoni, H., Sinev, I., Muhler, M., Mollenhauer, D., Cuenya, B., Schuhmann, W., & Apfel, U. (2018). Influence of the Fe:Ni Ratio and Reaction Temperature on the Efficiency of (FexNi1–x)9S8 Electrocatalysts Applied in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. ACS Catalysis. 8(2), 987-996. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.7b02617