Extraordinary hydrogen evolution and oxidation reaction activity from carbon nanotubes and graphitic carbons

Rajib Kumar Das, Yan Wang, Svetlana V. Vasilyeva, Evan Donoghue, Ilaria Pucher, George Kamenov, Hai Ping Cheng, Andrew G. Rinzler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

119 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hydrogen evolution reaction, 2H+ + 2e- → H2, and its converse, the hydrogen oxidation reaction, H2 → 2H+ + 2e-, are central to any realization of a hydrogen economy. Various forms of carbon have been used for decades as the precious metal catalyst support in these reactions. Here we report the unexpected result that single-wall carbon nanotubes and some graphitic carbons, activated by brief exposure to electrochemical potentials that induce hydrogen evolution in intercalating acids combined with extended soak times in such acids, acquire an activity for these reactions that exceeds that of known nonprecious metal catalysts.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8447-8456
Number of pages10
JournalACS Nano
Volume8
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 26 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • carbon nanotubes
  • graphitic carbons
  • hydrogen evolution
  • hydrogen oxidation
  • water splitting

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Extraordinary hydrogen evolution and oxidation reaction activity from carbon nanotubes and graphitic carbons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this