Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have made a breakthrough in green hydrogen production by developing insights into proton adsorption behavior at catalyst surfaces. Their findings pave the way for electrocatalysts that enhance hydrogen evolution efficiency, crucial for sustainable energy solutions.
The study explores heterostructures for hydrogen generation, focusing on the built-in electric field (BIEF), which plays a vital role in proton adsorption/desorption. The researchers constructed a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS)-based p-n heterojunction with CuWO4 (Copper tungsten oxide) nano-particles grown over Cu(OH)2 (Copper hydroxide), fabricating a CuWO4-CuO heterostructure.
Analyzing Gibbs free energy profiles across different regions of the catalyst, they found that near the depletion region, proton adsorption and desorption behavior contrasts sharply with the bulk area. This gradient enhances hydrogen bonding to the catalyst, optimizing adsorption and desorption for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Their research highlights negative cooperativity, where the binding of one molecule decreases the affinity of other sites for additional molecules. As proton coverage increases, the catalyst’s surface affinity for proton adsorption decreases, promoting alkaline HER by enhancing desorption.
Published in Advanced Energy Materials (2025), the study provides key insights into electrocatalyst design, enabling more effective hydrogen production for green technologies and a sustainable energy future.
