Size-and shape-dependent activity of metal nanoparticles as hydrogen-evolution catalysts: Mechanistic insights into photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) with different sizes and shapes was investigated in a photocatalytic hydrogen-evolution system composed of the 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium ion (Acr⁺-Mes: photocatalyst) and dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH: electron donor), based on rates of hydrogen evolution and electron transfer from one-electron-reduced species of Acr⁺-Mes (Acr^.-Mes) to PtNPs. Cubic PtNPs with a diameter of (6.3±0.6)nm exhibited the maximum catalytic activity. The observed hydrogen-evolution rate was virtually the same as the rate of electron transfer from Acr^.-Mes to PtNPs. The rate constant of electron transfer (k_et) increased linearly with increasing proton concentration. When H⁺ was replaced by D⁺, the inverse kinetic isotope effect was observed for the electron-transfer rate constant (k_et(H)/k_et(D)=0.47). The linear dependence of k _et on proton concentration together with the observed inverse kinetic isotope effect suggests that proton-coupled electron transfer from Acr ^.-Mes to PtNPs to form the PtH bond is the rate-determining step for catalytic hydrogen evolution. When FeNPs were used instead of PtNPs, hydrogen evolution was also observed, although the hydrogen-evolution efficiency was significantly lower than that of PtNPs because of the much slower electron transfer from Acr^.-Mes to FeNPs.