Origins of the Instability of Non-precious HER Catalysts at Open Circuit Potential

26 May 2021, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Non-precious hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts commonly suffer from severe dissolution under open circuit potential (OCP). In this work, using calculated Pourbaix diagrams, we quantitatively analyze the stability of a set of well-known active HER catalysts (MoS2, MoP, CoP, Pt in acid, and Ni3Mo in base) under working conditions. We determine that the large thermodynamic driving force towards decomposition created by the electrode/electrolyte interface potential is responsible for the substantial dissolution of non-precious HER catalysts at OCP. Our analysis further shows the stability of HER catalysts in acidic solution is ordered as Pt ∼ MoS2 > MoP > CoP, which is confirmed by the measured dissolution rates using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Based on gained insights, we suggest strategies to circumvent the catalyst dissolution in aqueous solution.

Keywords

electrochemical stability
density functional theory
Pourbaix diagram
hydrogen evolution reaction
open circuit potential

Supplementary materials

Title
Description
Actions
Title
HER stability SI
Description
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