Production of hydrogen by electrocatalysis: making the H-H bond by combining protons and hydrides.

Generation of hydrogen by reduction of two protons by two electrons can be catalysed by molecular electrocatalysts. Determination of the thermodynamic driving force for elimination of H2 from molecular complexes is important for the rational design of molecular electrocatalysts, and allows the design of metal complexes of abundant, inexpensive metals rather than precious metals ("Cheap Metals for Noble Tasks"). The rate of H2 evolution can be dramatically accelerated by incorporating pendant amines into diphosphine ligands.