Harnessing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) through the electrical mobility of an embossed Ag(i)-molecular cage and a Cu(ii)-coordination polymer

Abstract

A structurally characterized porous Ag(I)-molecular cage Ag_MOC and a Cu(II)-coordination polymer Cu_CP with a pre-synthesized ligand 1,3-bis(((E)-2-methoxybenzylidene)amino)propan-2-ol and its parental amine with thiocyanate are reported to harness electrical mobility-driven hydrogen evolution activity. Porosity-induced electrically conductive Ag_MOC emerges as a better electrocatalyst with a Tafel slope of 104 mV per decade over Cu(II)-polymer's slope of 128 mV per decade. The electrochemical stability and durability of the designed electrocatalysts in harnessing the HER activity are also examined under experimental conditions.