Abstract

Practical electrochemical water splitting and carbon-dioxide reduction are desirable for a sustainable energy society. In particular, facilitating the oxygen evolution reaction (OER, the reaction at the anode) will increase the efficiency of these reactions. Nickel (Ni) compounds are excellent OER catalysts under basic conditions, and atomically precise Ni clusters have been actively studied to understand their complex reaction mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the geometric/electronic structure of tiara-like metal nanoclusters [Nin(PET)2n; n = 4, 5, 6, where PET refers to phenylethanethiolate] with the same SR ligand. The geometric structure of Ni5(SR)10 was determined for the first time using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Additionally, combined electrochemical measurements and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements revealed that Ni5(SR)10 easily forms an OER intermediate and therefore exhibits a high specific activity.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.