Direct electrochemical identification of rare microscopic catalytic active sites

Local voltammetric analysis with a scanning electrochemical droplet cell technique, in combination with a new data processing protocol (termed data binning and trinisation), is used to directly identify previously unseen regions of elevated electrocatalytic activity on the basal plane (BP) of molybdenum disulfide (2H-MoS2). This includes BP-like structures with hydrogen evolution reaction activities approaching that of the edge plane and rare nanoscale electrocatalytic hot-spots present at an areal density of approximately 0.2-1 mu m(-2). Understanding the nature of (sub)microscopic catalytic active sites, such as those identified herein, is crucial to guide the rational design of next-generation earth-abundant materials for renewable fuels production.

Automated summary

Local voltammetric analysis with a scanning electrochemical droplet cell technique, in combination with a new data processing protocol, is used to directly identify previously unseen regions of elevated electrocatalytic activity on the basal plane of molybdenum disulfide. Understanding the nature of these microscopic catalytic active sites is crucial for the rational design of renewable fuel production materials.