2026-10-10T06:25:12Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34020619 2026-09-29T03:09:26Z category_1 category_915 category_8 category_16 category_21 category_24 category_873 category_46 category_132 portal_63 item_type_6 month_year_09_2026

Continuous Hydrogen Photogeneration at a Soft Interface Comprising a Subnanoliter Volume Organic Phase Ariba Aziz (25133914) Wojciech Nogala (1473133) Pekka Peljo (1480084) Hubert H. Girault (1413781) Marcin Opallo (1473136) Biophysics Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified Microbiology Physiology Biotechnology Evolutionary Biology Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Immunology Infectious Diseases scanning electrochemical microscopy relatively simple design negative chemical polarization continuous hydrogen photogeneration sustainable system consisting recessed pt microelectrode protons locally generated aqueous – organic organic phase reduced organic phase acts soft interface comprising indicating proton transfer 2 </ sub secm tip next biphasic system allowing liquid interface formed organic phase soft interface proton transfer aqueous phase whole system system allows microelectrode cavity hydrated protons liquid interface continuous photogenerated tip placed related research reaction site minimal volume important topic donor molecules also observed Solar energy-driven hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remains an important topic in energy-related research. A biphasic (aqueous–organic) system allows for a relatively simple design with a soft interface as a reaction site. The electron donor from the organic phase acts as both photosensitizer and catalyst, enabling HER from the hydrated protons in the aqueous phase in the presence of light. Here, we demonstrate a biphasic system allowing for continuous hydrogen photogeneration, with the organic phase reduced to a subnanoliter droplet of decamethylruthenocene (DMRc) solution in α,α,α-trifluorotoluene (TFT) placed on a recessed Pt microelectrode. Proton transfer to the TFT phase was ensured by negative chemical polarization of the liquid|liquid interface formed at the orifice of the microelectrode cavity. The whole system was kept in an Ar atmosphere, and the Pt microelectrode potential enabled electrochemical recycling of electron-donor molecules. H₂ was detected at the scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) tip placed above the droplet only in the presence of light. Photogenerated HER was also observed in H₂ atmosphere with protons locally generated at the SECM tip next to the liquid|liquid interface, indicating proton transfer. These results demonstrate that continuous photogenerated HER may be realized with the sustainable system consisting of a minimal volume of organic phase. 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.1021/acs.jpcc.6c04112.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Continuous_Hydrogen_Photogeneration_at_a_Soft_Interface_Comprising_a_Subnanoliter_Volume_Organic_Phase/34020619 CC BY-NC 4.0