Molecular molybdenum persulfide and related catalysts for generating hydrogen from water

US9315909B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey R. Long · Oakland, US
• Christopher J. Chang · Berkeley, US
• Hemamala Indivari Karunadasa · Palo Alto, US
• Marcin Majda · Berkeley, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 23, 2012
• Grant date: Apr 19, 2016
• Expiry date: Sep 26, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/36
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

New metal persulfido compositions of matter are described. In one embodiment the metal is molybdenum and the metal persulfido complex mimics the structure and function of the triangular active edge site fragments of MoS2, a material that is the current industry standard for petroleum hydro desulfurization, as well as a promising low-cost alternative to platinum for electrocatalytic hydrogen production. This molecular [(PY5W2)MoS2]x+ containing catalyst is capable of generating hydrogen from acidic-buffered water or even seawater at very low overpotentials at a turnover frequency rate in excess of 500 moles H2 per mole catalyst per second, with a turnover number (over a 20 hour period) of at least 19,000,000 moles H2 per mole of catalyst.