Nickel(II) Benzil Bis(Thiosemicarbazonato) Complexes as Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

We report the electrocatalytic performance in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of three Ni(II) complexes based on benzil bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligands derived from 1,2-diphenylethanedione and 4-isopropyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (L1H2), 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (L2H2) or 3-thiosemicarbazide (L3H2)....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Lizcano-Vaquero, R., Burón, R., Recio, F., Jiménez-Gómez, D., Calatayud, D., Iglesias-Juez, A., Fresno, F., Mendiola, M., López-Torres, E.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/425665
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/425665
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85218965771&doi=10.1002%2Faoc.70094&partnerID=40&md5=c33a65ae6e46ff454ec38b8de8828eec
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:bis(thiosemicarbazone)
electrocatalysis
hydrogen evolution reaction
nickel(II) complexes
Descripción
Sumario:We report the electrocatalytic performance in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of three Ni(II) complexes based on benzil bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligands derived from 1,2-diphenylethanedione and 4-isopropyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (L1H2), 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (L2H2) or 3-thiosemicarbazide (L3H2). Cyclic voltammetry in dimethylformamide (DMF) exhibit two diffusion-controlled reversible processes at negative potentials, corresponding to [NiIIL3]/[NiIIL3·]− and NiII/NiI reduction processes. The catalytic activity in DMF was evaluated using acetic acid as proton source, showing the appearance of a catalytic cathodic current associated with the NiII/I redox couple. Analysis of the gas evolved from controlled potential coulometry (CPC) confirmed that the three complexes can effectively catalyse hydrogen evolution and that the catalytic activity depends on the substituent attached to the terminal amine. Electrolysis induces electrodeposition of the complexes on the electrode surface forming a film, which were also tested as HER catalysts. The results showed that the total charge produced by the films is, in all cases, lower than with the dissolved complex, but they exhibit higher faradaic efficiencies. DFT calculations were made to establish the catalytic route, and the results support an ECEC mechanism, in which E represents an electrochemical step and C is a chemical one (protonation), centred in the metal assisted by the ligand. © 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.