Hydrogen evolution by ternary metal selenide at biomembrane-like soft interfaces

Abstract

Two phase reactions are the analogy of biomembranes, which are polarized by Galvani potential difference at interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions. Energy conversion reactions such as oxygen reduction reaction or hydrogen evolution reaction have been great drawn attention at soft interfaces due to the similarity of natural biochemical reactions. In this study, copper-based ternary metal selenide (copper tungsten selenide, Cu2WSe4) was first reported in the literature for hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. The synthesized Cu2WSe4 catalyst is characterized by morphological and structural techniques. Catalytic activity of Cu2WSe4 at liquid–liquid interfaces by lipophilic decamethylferrocene as the sacrificial electron donor agent. This catalytic activity was tracked by four-electrode voltammetry at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface and biphasic reactions monitored by gas chromatography. The rates of the hydrogen evolution reaction catalyzed by the Cu2WSe4 were found to be approximately 160-fold than the rate for the reaction performed in the absence of a catalyst.