Electrocatalytic H2 Evolution Promoted by a Bioinspired (N2S2)Ni(II) Complex at Low Acid Concentration

We have investigated a bioinspired (N2S2)Ni(II) electrocatalyst that produces H2 from CF3CO2H with a turnover frequency (TOF) of ~200,000 s–1 at low acid concentration (<0.043 M) in MeCN. We also propose an electrochemical mechanism for such an electrocatalyst toward H2 production and benchmarked its activity by comparing its TOF and overpotential with those of other reported molecular Ni H2 evolution electrocatalysts.