Hydrogen generation from catalytic glucose oxidation by Fe-based electrocatalysts

Iron phosphide films (Fe2P) grown in situ on stainless steel mesh (SSM) exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance toward the glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) with robust durability. During GOR, the Fe2P could be further transformed into the oxidized Fe species with high catalytic activity. The integrated two-electrode glucose electrolytic cell utilizing Fe2P/SSM and Pt/C exhibited a cell voltage 300 mV lower than water splitting alone, indicating an efficient pathway for H-2 production. These features suggest that the replacement of the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with the thermodynamically more favourable GOR in the Pt/C||Fe2P/SSM configuration is an attractive alternative for electrolytic H-2 generation.