Confinement of hydrogen molecules at graphene-metal interface by electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction

Yasuda, Satoshi   ; Tamura, Kazuhisa   ; Terasawa, Tomoo   ; Yano, Masahiro   ; Nakajima, Hideaki*; Morimoto, Takahiro*; Okazaki, Toshiya*; Agari, Ryushi*; Takahashi, Yasufumi*; Kato, Masaru*; Yagi, Ichizo*; Asaoka, Hidehito  

Confinement of hydrogen molecules at graphene-substrate interface has presented significant importance from the viewpoints of development of fundamental understanding of two-dimensional material interface and energy storage system. In this study, we investigate H confinement at a graphene-Au interface by combining selective proton permeability of graphene and the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (electrochemical HER) method. After HER on a graphene/Au electrode in protonic acidic solution, scanning tunneling microscopy finds that H nanobubble structures can be produced between graphene and the Au surface. Strain analysis by Raman spectroscopy also shows that atomic size roughness on the graphene/Au surface originating from the HER-induced strain relaxation of graphene plays significant role in formation of the nucleation site and H storage capacity.