A new catalyst based on a nickel(II) complex of diiminodiphosphine for hydrogen evolution and oxidation

Abstract

Based on that hydrogen energy is widely used in fuel cells, we focus our interests on the design and research of new complexes that catalyze the reaction in both directions, such as hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) and hydrogen oxidation reactions (HORs). A highly efficient catalyst for both hydrogen evolution and oxidation, based on a nickel(II) complex, [Ni-en-P2](ClO4)2, has been designed and provided by the reaction of Ni(ClO4)2 with N,N′-bis[o-(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene]ethylenediamine (en-P2) in our group. Its structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction. [Ni-en-P2](ClO4)2 can electro-catalyze hydrogen evolution both from acetic acid and a neutral buffer (pH 7.0) with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 204 and 1327 mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour (H2/mol catalyst/h) under an overpotential (OP) of 914.6 mV and 836.6 mV, respectively. [Ni-en-P2](ClO4)2 also can electro-catalyze hydrogen oxidation with a TOF of 111.7 s−1 under an OP of 330 mV. The results can be attributed to that [NiII-en-P2](ClO4)2 has three good reversible redox waves at 1.01 (NiIII/II), −0.79 (NiII/I) and −1.38 V (NiI/0) versus Fc+/0, respectively. We hope these findings can afford a new method for the design of electrocatalysts for both H2 evolution and H2 oxidation.