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The Reaction Mechanism with Free Energy Barriers for Electrochemical Dihydrogen Evolution on MoS_2

Huang, Yufeng and Nielsen, Robert J. and Goddard, William A., III and Soriaga, Manuel P. (2015) The Reaction Mechanism with Free Energy Barriers for Electrochemical Dihydrogen Evolution on MoS_2. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137 (20). pp. 6692-6698. ISSN 0002-7863. doi:10.1021/jacs.5b03329. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-142900035

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Abstract

We report density functional theory (M06L) calculations including Poisson–Boltzmann solvation to determine the reaction pathways and barriers for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on MoS_2, using both a periodic two-dimensional slab and a Mo_(10)S_(21) cluster model. We find that the HER mechanism involves protonation of the electron rich molybdenum hydride site (Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism), leading to a calculated free energy barrier of 17.9 kcal/mol, in good agreement with the barrier of 19.9 kcal/mol estimated from the experimental turnover frequency. Hydronium protonation of the hydride on the Mo site is 21.3 kcal/mol more favorable than protonation of the hydrogen on the S site because the electrons localized on the Mo–H bond are readily transferred to form dihydrogen with hydronium. We predict the Volmer–Tafel mechanism in which hydrogen atoms bound to molybdenum and sulfur sites recombine to form H_2 has a barrier of 22.6 kcal/mol. Starting with hydrogen atoms on adjacent sulfur atoms, the Volmer–Tafel mechanism goes instead through the M–H + S–H pathway. In discussions of metal chalcogenide HER catalysis, the S–H bond energy has been proposed as the critical parameter. However, we find that the sulfur–hydrogen species is not an important intermediate since the free energy of this species does not play a direct role in determining the effective activation barrier. Rather we suggest that the kinetic barrier should be used as a descriptor for reactivity, rather than the equilibrium thermodynamics. This is supported by the agreement between the calculated barrier and the experimental turnover frequency. These results suggest that to design a more reactive catalyst from edge exposed MoS2, one should focus on lowering the reaction barrier between the metal hydride and a proton from the hydronium in solution.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b03329DOIArticle
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jacs.5b03329PublisherArticle
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/jacs.5b03329PublisherSupporting Information
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Huang, Yufeng0000-0002-0373-2210
Nielsen, Robert J.0000-0002-7962-0186
Goddard, William A., III0000-0003-0097-5716
Soriaga, Manuel P.0000-0002-0077-6226
Alternate Title:The Reaction Mechanism with Free Energy Barriers for Electrochemical Dihydrogen Evolution on MoS2
Additional Information:© 2015 American Chemical Society. ACS AuthorChoice - This is an open access article published under an ACS AuthorChoice License, which permits copying and redistribution of the article or any adaptations for non-commercial purposes. Received: March 30, 2015. Publication Date (Web): May 5, 2015. This material is based upon work performed by the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub, supported through the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-SC0004993.
Group:JCAP
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Department of Energy (DOE)DE-SC0004993
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
WAG1121
Issue or Number:20
DOI:10.1021/jacs.5b03329
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-142900035
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150518-142900035
Official Citation:The Reaction Mechanism with Free Energy Barriers for Electrochemical Dihydrogen Evolution on MoS2 Yufeng Huang, Robert J. Nielsen, William A. Goddard, III, and Manuel P. Soriaga Journal of the American Chemical Society 2015 137 (20), 6692-6698 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b03329
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:57613
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Tony Diaz
Deposited On:18 May 2015 22:00
Last Modified:10 Nov 2021 21:52

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