An Oxygen‐Insensitive Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst Coated by a Molybdenum‐Based Layer for Overall Water Splitting

• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201701861
• Publication Date: 2017-04-13T18:34:51Z
• Authors: Angel T. Garcia‐E...; Tatsuya Shinagawa; Samy Ould‐Chikh; Muhammad Qureshi; Xuyuan Peng; Nini Wei; Dalaver H. Anjum; Alain Clo; Tsu‐Chien Weng; Dennis Nordlund; Dimosthenis Sokaras; Jun Kubota; Kazunari Domen; Kazuhiro Takanabe
• Keywords: Electrolysis of water; Oxygen evolution; Photocatalytic water splitting

For overall water-splitting systems, it is essential to establish O2-insensitive cathodes that allow cogeneration of H2 and O2. An acid-tolerant electrocatalyst described, which employs a Mo-coating on metal surface achieve selective evolution in the presence In operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy identified reduced Pt covered with an amorphous molybdenum oxyhydroxide hydrate local structural order composed polyanionic trimeric units molybdenum(IV). The Mo layer likely hinders O2 gas permeation, impeding contact active Pt. Photocatalytic water splitting proceeded using MoOx/Pt/SrTiO3 inhibited formation from O2, prevailing back reaction bare Pt/SrTiO3 photocatalyst. coating was stable acidic media for multiple hours by membraneless electrolysis photocatalysis.