Boosting electrocatalyzed hydrogen evolution reactions with electropolymerized thiophene-substituted CoIIIcorroles

Abstract

Herein, an A₃-type and an A₂B-type meso-thiophene-substituted Co^IIIcorrole are prepared and their electronic structures are investigated. Interestingly, these two Co^IIIcorroles are facilely polymerized under electrochemical conditions and rationally controlled by polymerizing cycles, speed, molecular structure as well as co-polymerizations. In addition, these conductive Co^IIIcorrole–polymers exhibit a significant increase and tunable electrochemically catalyzed hydrogen evolution behaviours with the best overpotential E = 0.091 V (j = 10 mA cm⁻²) in aqueous media.