Non-metal Single-Iodine-Atom Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Common-metal-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) are quite difficult to design due to the complex synthesis processes required. Herein, we report a single-atom nickel iodide (SANi-I) electrocatalyst with atomically dispersed non-metal iodine atoms. The SANi-I is prepared via a simple calcination step in a vacuum-sealed ampoule and subsequent cyclic voltammetry activation. Aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy are applied to confirm the atomic-level dispersion of iodine atoms and detailed structure of SANi-I. Single iodine atoms are found to be isolated by oxygen atoms. The SANi-I is structural stable and shows exceptional electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals that the hydrogen adatom (H-ads) is adsorbed by a single iodine atom, forming the I-H-ads intermediate, which promotes the HER process.