Pd0@Polyoxometalate Nanostructures as Green Electrocatalysts: Illustrative Example of Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Green-chemistry type procedures were used to synthesize Pd0 nanostructures encapsulated by a vanadium-substituted Wells-Dawson-type polyoxometalate (Pd0@POM). The cyclic voltammogram run with the Pd0@POM-modified glassy carbon electrode shows well-defined waves, associated with Pd0 nanostructures and the VV/VIV redox couple. The Pd0@POM-modified electrode displayed remarkably reproducible cyclic voltammetry patterns. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was selected as an illustrative example to test the electrocatalytic behavior of the electrode. The kinetic parameters of the HER show the high efficiency of the Pd0@POM-modified electrode. This is the first example of electrochemical characterization of a modified electrode based on a vanado-tungstic POM and Pd0 nanostructures.

Keywords

• green chemistry
• palladium nanoparticles
• nanostructures
• vanadium-substituted polyoxotungstate
• self-assembly
• hydrogen evolution reaction