Reaction Parameters Influencing Cobalt Hydride Formation Kinetics: Implications for Benchmarking H2-Evolution Catalysts

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b10148
• Publication Date: 2016-12-20T20:37:34Z
• Authors: Noémie Elgrishi; Daniel A. Kurtz; Jillian L. Dempsey
• Keywords: Overpotential; Free-energy relationship; Rate equation

The need for benchmarking hydrogen evolution catalysts has increasingly been recognized. influence of acid choice on activity is often reduced to the overpotential catalysis. Through study a stable cobalt hydride complex, we demonstrate choice, beyond pKa, kinetics formation. A linear free energy relationship between pKa and second-order rate constants observed weaker acids. For stronger acids, however, further increases in do not correlate constants. Further, steric bulk around acidic proton shown dramatically. Together, these observations reveal complex factors dictating catalyst performance.