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1T-MoS₂and single-atom modified analogues represent a highly promising class of low-cost catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the role of single atoms, either as active species or promoters, remains vague despite its essentiality toward more efficient HER. In this work, we report the unambiguous identification of Ni single atom as key active sites in the basal plane of 1T-MoS₂(Ni@1T-MoS₂) that result in efficient HER performance. The intermediate structure of this Ni active site under catalytic conditions was captured by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, where a reversible metallic Ni species (Ni⁰) is observed in alkaline conditions whereas Ni remains in its local structure under acidic conditions. These insights provide crucial mechanistic understanding of Ni@1T-MoS₂HER electrocatalysts and suggest that the understanding gained from such in situ studies is necessary toward the development of highly efficient single-atom decorated 1T-MoS₂electrocatalysts.

 

Owing to their porous structure and tunable framework, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have garnered considerable attention as promising photocatalytic materials. However, little is known regarding their photophysical properties. In this work, we report the photoinduced charge separation dynamics in a ZIF-67 thin film through interfacial electron transfer (ET) to methylene blue (MB + ) via ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. We show that the ET process occurs through two distinct pathways, including an ultrafast (<200 fs) process from the [Co II (mim) 2 ] units located on the surface of ZIF-67 film that are directly in contact with MB + and a relatively slower ET process with a 101.4 ps time constant from the units in the bulk of the film that were isolated from MB + by the surface units. This first direct evidence of the ET process from ZIF-67 to electron acceptor strongly suggests that ZIF materials may be used as intrinsic photocatalytic materials rather than inert hosts.