Research Projects

Hydrogen generation using water splitting requires a catalyst to reduce the overpotential. Here, we propose the utilization of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF) based material as electrocatalyst. This material is known for its high surface area and high porosity but limited conductivity and low stability. Hydrogen Evolution Reaction(HER) requires a catalyst with high and uniform distribution of active centers in the conducting frame work. These active centers act as catalytic centers for the hydrogen evolution reaction, its presence at the interface is equally important. Hence, to address these issues we are proposing to develop an HER electrocatalyst using ZIF based materials with transition metal-based centers and nitrogen doped carbon framework. This will ensure high electron transport rate along with the uniform dispersion of active reaction centers. The structure will be optimized for nitrogen/heteroatom doping along with the composite development to improve the catalytic efficiency compared to commercial Pt/C catalyst. Here, we also plan to understand the mechanism for electron transfer using first principle DFT calculations on heteroatom doped carbon structures. This project aims to develop ZIF based composite with an attempt to boost its electrochemical activity by chemical modification to allow the usage of suitable single and/or multiple heteroatoms to tune the final composition for electrochemical HER activity.