Synergism of Interface and Electronic Effects: Bifunctional N-Doped Ni3S2/N-Doped MoS2 Hetero-Nanowires for Efficient Electrocatalytic Overall Water Splitting

The realization of water electrolysis on the basis of highly active, cost-effective electrocatalysts is significant yet challenging for achieving sustainable hydrogen production from water. Herein, N-doped Ni₃S₂/N-doped MoS₂ 1D hetero-nanowires supported by Ni foam (N-Ni₃S₂/N-MoS₂/NF) are readily synthesized through a chemical transformation strategy by using NiMoO₄ nanowire array growth on Ni foam (NiMoO₄/NF) as the starting material. With the in situ generation of Ni₃S₂/MoS₂ heterointerfaces within nanowires and the incorporation of N⁻ anions, an extraordinary hydrophilic nature with abundant, well-exposed active sites and optimal reaction dynamics for both oxidation and reduction of water are obtained. Attributed to these properties, as-converted N-Ni₃S₂/N-MoS₂/NF exhibits highly efficient electrocatalytic activities for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions under alkaline conditions. The superior bifunctional properties of N-Ni₃S₂/N-MoS₂/NF enable it to effectively catalyze the overall water-splitting reaction.     

NixCo3‐xO4 Nanoneedle Arrays Grown on Ni Foam as an Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Full Water Splitting

Developing highly active, stable and robust electrocatalysts based on earth‐abundant elements for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is important for many renewable energy conversion processes. Herein, Ni_xCo_3‐xO₄ nanoneedle arrays grown on 3D porous nickel foam (NF) was synthesized as a bifunctional electrocatalyst with OER and HER activity for full water splitting. Benefiting from the advantageous structure, the composite exhibits superior OER activity with an overpotential of 320 mV achieving the current density of 10 mA cm^?2. An exceptional HER activity is also acquired with an overpotential of 170 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm^?2. Furthermore, the catalyst also shows the superior activity and stability for 20 h when used in the overall water splitting cell. Thus, the hierarchical 3D structure composed of the 1D nanoneedle structure in Ni_xCo_3‐xO₄/NF represents an avenue to design and develop highly active and bifunctional electrocatalysts for promising energy conversion.     

两步电沉积构建NiFe/Ni3S2/NF分级异质电极用于大电流密度析氧反应

通过简便的两步电沉积法在泡沫镍表面有效复合非晶态Ni₃S₂材料与富缺陷的NiFe双金属羟基氧化物,从而构建了NiFe/Ni₃S₂/NF三维分级纳米异质电极。受益于非晶态Ni₃S₂和富缺陷NiFe材料的结构和催化优势,以及异质界面的强电子相互作用,使得NiFe/Ni₃S₂/NF催化电极表现出优异的析氧催化性能:达到100 mA·cm^-2时的析氧过电位仅为273 mV,远优于大多数已报道的Ni/Fe基复合材料。值得注意的是,在1 mol·L^-1KOH溶液中,仅需~372 mV的过电位即可稳定输出1000 mA·cm^-2的高电流密度达27 h以上。     

两步电沉积构建NiFe/Ni3S2/NF分级异质电极用于大电流密度析氧反应

通过简便的两步电沉积法在泡沫镍表面有效复合非晶态Ni₃S₂材料与富缺陷的NiFe双金属羟基氧化物,从而构建了NiFe/Ni₃S₂/NF三维分级纳米异质电极。受益于非晶态Ni₃S₂和富缺陷NiFe材料的结构和催化优势,以及异质界面的强电子相互作用,使得NiFe/Ni₃S₂/NF催化电极表现出优异的析氧催化性能：达到100 mA·cm^-2时的析氧过电位仅为273 mV,远优于大多数已报道的Ni/Fe基复合材料。值得注意的是,在1 mol·L^-1 KOH溶液中,仅需~372 mV的过电位即可稳定输出1 000 mA·cm^-2的高电流密度达27 h以上。     

Plasma-modified iron-doped Ni3S2 nanosheet arrays as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

The development of efficient transition-metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction is significant to meeting global energy demands. In this study, to realize a high-performance electrocatalyst, we synthesize an Fe-doped Ni₃S₂ nanosheet material in situ on 3D structured nickel foam via the hydrothermal sulfide method, and then modify it by the dielectric barrier discharge plasma technique. Combining Fe atom doping and plasma modification increases the electrochemical surface area, provides an abundance of active sites, optimizes the electronic structure, and accelerates the reaction kinetics, thereby improving catalytic activity. As a result, the PA@Fe_1/4-Ni₃S₂/NF catalyst exhibits excellent hydrogen evolution reaction activity, only requires ultra-low overpotentials to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^?2, and exhibits excellent durability. This study proposes a novel method for rationally designing non-noble metal electrocatalysts.     

Ni2P Interlayer and Mn Doping Synergistically Expedite the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Kinetics of Co2P

Transition metal phosphide is regarded as one of the most promising candidates to replace noble-metal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts. Nevertheless, the controllable design and synthesis of transition metal phosphide electrocatalysts with efficient and stable electrochemical performance are still very challenging. Herein, a novel hierarchical HER electrocatalyst consisting of three-dimensional (3D) coral-like Mn-doped Co₂P@an intermediate layer of Ni₂P generated in situ by phosphorization on Ni foam (MnCoP/NiP/NF) is reported. Notably, both the incorporation of Mn and introduction of the Ni₂P interlayer promote Co atoms to carry more electrons, which is beneficial to reduce the force of the Co−H bond and optimize the adsorption energy of hydrogen intermediate (|ΔG_H*|), thereby making MnCoP/NiP/NF exhibit outstanding HER performance with onset overpotential and Tafel slope as low as 31.2 mV and 61 mV dec⁻¹, respectively, in 1 m KOH electrolyte.     

Ni3S2@NiFePx electrode with dual-anion-modulated layer for efficient and stable oxygen evolution

The rational construction of high-performance and stable electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a prerequisite for efficient water electrolysis. Herein, we develop a broccoli-like Ni₃S₂@NiFeP_x (Ni₃S₂@NFP) catalyst on nickel foam (NF) via a sequential two-step layer-by-layer assembly electrodeposition method. X-ray diffraction, in situ Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectra have mutually validated the element segregation and phase refusion during OER condition. The reconstruction of double layer Ni₃S₂@NFP facilitates the formation of the active (oxy)hydroxides, which is modulated by the dual anionic layer with mixed sulfate and phosphate ions. As a result, the obtained Ni₃S₂@NFP electrode exhibits low overpotential (329 mV) and long-term durability (∼500 h) for OER at current density of 500 mA/cm². Moreover, the self-supported Ni₃S₂@NFP can act as an efficient and durable anode in alkaline anion exchange membrane water electrolysis device (AEMWE). This work provides a facile and scaled-up strategy to construct self-supported electrocatalyst and emphasizes the crucial role of anions in pre-catalyst reconstruction and enhancing OER performance.     

An Engineered Superhydrophilic/Superaerophobic Electrocatalyst Composed of the Supported CoMoSx Chalcogel for Overall Water Splitting

The development of high‐efficiency electrocatalysts for large‐scale water splitting is critical but also challenging. In this study, a hierarchical CoMoS_x chalcogel was synthesized on a nickel foam (NF) through an in situ metathesis reaction and demonstrated excellent activity and stability in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media. The high catalytic activity could be ascribed to the abundant active sites/defects in the amorphous framework and promotion of activity through cobalt doping. Furthermore, the superhydrophilicity and superaerophobicity of micro‐/nanostructured CoMoS_x/NF promoted mass transfer by facilitating access of electrolytes and ensuring fast release of gas bubbles. By employing CoMoS_x/NF as bifunctional electrocatalysts, the overall water splitting device delivered a current density of 500 mA cm^?2 at a low voltage of 1.89 V and maintained its activity without decay for 100 h.     

泡沫镍负载Fe2O3@Ni3S2纳米线网状结构电极的制备及其电催化析氧性能

通过两步水热法制备泡沫镍(NF)负载Fe_2O_3纳米粒子@Ni_3S_2纳米线网状结构电极(Fe_2O_3@Ni_3S_2/NF)。运用X射线衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、N_2吸附-脱附测试等方法对电极材料的物相和微观结构特征等进行了表征。水热条件下原位表面化学刻蚀生成的Ni_3S_2纳米线与三维多孔NF基体间拥有强结合力和低界面电阻,Fe_2O_3粒子均匀分布在纳米线的表面。在1 mol·L~(-1)的KOH溶液中,运用线性扫描伏安测试(LSV)、计时电位法、电化学交流阻抗测试(EIS)等对电极的电催化析氧(OER)性能进行了测试。结果表明:在100 mA·cm~(-2)的超高电流密度下,Fe_2O_3@Ni_3S_2/NF电极的OER过电势仅为223 mV,比Ni_3S_2/NF材料的过电势降低了285 mV;经过10 h计时电位测试,性能保持率高达80%。     

Improving the Electrocatalytic Activity of a Nickel-Organic Framework toward the Oxygen Evolution Reaction through Vanadium Doping

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered as potential oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts owning to their ultra-thin structure, adjustable composition, high surface area, and high porosity. Here, we designed and fabricated a vanadium-doped nickel organic framework (V_1−x−Ni_xMOF) system by using a facile two-step solvothermal method on nickel foam (NF). The doping of vanadium remarkably elevates the OER activity of V_1−x−Ni_xMOF, thus demonstrating better performance than the corresponding single metallic Ni-MOF, NiV-MOF and RuO₂ catalysts at high current density (>400 mA cm⁻²). V_0.09−Ni_0.91MOF/NF provides a low overpotential of 235 mV and a small Tafel slope of 30.3 mV dec⁻¹ at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². More importantly, a water-splitting device assembled with Pt/C/NF and V_0.09−Ni_0.91MOF/NF as cathode and anode yielded a cell voltage of 1.96 V@1000 mA cm⁻², thereby outperforming the-state-of-the-art RuO₂⁽⁺⁾||Pt/C⁽⁻⁾. Our work sheds new insight on preparing stable, efficient OER electrocatalysts and a promising method for designing various MOF-based materials.     

Energy-Saving Electrolytic Hydrogen Generation: Ni2P Nanoarray as a High-Performance Non-Noble-Metal Electrocatalyst

It is highly attractive but challenging to develop earth-abundant electrocatalysts for energy-saving electrolytic hydrogen generation. Herein, we report that Ni₂P nanoarrays grown in situ on nickel foam (Ni₂P/NF) behave as a durable high-performance non-noble-metal electrocatalyst for hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) in alkaline media. The replacement of the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction with such the more thermodynamically favorable HzOR enables energy-saving electrochemical hydrogen production with the use of Ni₂P/NF as a bifunctional catalyst for anodic HzOR and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction. When operated at room temperature, this two-electrode electrolytic system drives 500 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage as low as 1.0 V with strong long-term electrochemical durability and 100 % Faradaic efficiency for hydrogen evolution in 1.0 m KOH aqueous solution with 0.5 m hydrazine.     

Energy‐Saving Electrolytic Hydrogen Generation: Ni2P Nanoarray as a High‐Performance Non‐Noble‐Metal Electrocatalyst

It is highly attractive but challenging to develop earth‐abundant electrocatalysts for energy‐saving electrolytic hydrogen generation. Herein, we report that Ni₂P nanoarrays grown in situ on nickel foam (Ni₂P/NF) behave as a durable high‐performance non‐noble‐metal electrocatalyst for hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) in alkaline media. The replacement of the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction with such the more thermodynamically favorable HzOR enables energy‐saving electrochemical hydrogen production with the use of Ni₂P/NF as a bifunctional catalyst for anodic HzOR and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction. When operated at room temperature, this two‐electrode electrolytic system drives 500 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage as low as 1.0 V with strong long‐term electrochemical durability and 100 % Faradaic efficiency for hydrogen evolution in 1.0 m KOH aqueous solution with 0.5 m hydrazine.     

磷化镍修饰磷掺杂氧化镓可见光催化水分解产氢

以Ga₂O₃半导体为前驱体,用浸渍加低温磷化法制备了P掺杂Ga₂O₃表面修饰Ni₂P光催化剂(x-Ni₂P/Ga₂O₃-P_y,x代表Ni²⁺和Ga₂O₃的物质的量之比,y代表NaH₂PO·H₂O与Ga₂O₃的物质的量之比)。5%-Ni₂P/Ga₂O₃-P₆催化剂展现出在纯水中光催化析氢的高活性,在430 nm光照下的光量子效率为0.22%。机理研究结果表明Ni₂P修饰和P掺杂扩展了催化剂的光响应范围,同时提升了载流子分离迁移效率,其长周期光催化反应稳定性明显优于未磷化催化剂。     

Interface Engineering of MoS2/Ni3S2 Heterostructures for Highly Enhanced Electrochemical Overall‐Water‐Splitting Activity

To achieve sustainable production of H₂ fuel through water splitting, low‐cost electrocatalysts for the hydrogen‐evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen‐evolution reaction (OER) are required to replace Pt and IrO₂ catalysts. Herein, for the first time, we present the interface engineering of novel MoS₂/Ni₃S₂ heterostructures, in which abundant interfaces are formed. For OER, such MoS₂/Ni₃S₂ heterostructures show an extremely low overpotential of ca. 218 mV at 10 mA cm^?2, which is superior to that of the state‐of‐the‐art OER electrocatalysts. Using MoS₂/Ni₃S₂ heterostructures as bifunctional electrocatalysts, an alkali electrolyzer delivers a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at a very low cell voltage of ca. 1.56 V. In combination with DFT calculations, this study demonstrates that the constructed interfaces synergistically favor the chemisorption of hydrogen and oxygen‐containing intermediates, thus accelerating the overall electrochemical water splitting.     

Tb2–xNdxZn17–yNiy (x = 0.5, y = 4.83): a new intermetallic with a maximum disordered structure and its hydrogen storage properties

The ternary Tb_2–xNd_xZn_17–yNi_y (x = 0.5, y = 4.83) disordered phase belongs to the structural family based on the rhombohedral Th₂Zn₁₇ structure type. The structure is maximally disordered since all the sites are occupied by statistical mixtures of atoms. The Tb/Nd mixture of atoms occupies the 6c site (site symmetry 3m). The statistical mixtures Ni/Zn consisting of more Ni atoms are located in the 6c and 9d (symmetry .2/m) sites. In the following 18f (site symmetry .2) and 18h (site symmetry .m) sites are located Zn/Ni statistical mixtures which consist of more Zn atoms. Zn/Ni atoms form three-dimensional networks with hexagonal channels that fill statistical mixtures of Tb/Nd and Ni/Zn. The Tb_2–xNd_xZn_17–yNi_y compound belongs to the family of intermetallic phases capable of absorbing hydrogen. In the structure, there are three types of voids, namely, 9e (site symmetry .2/m), 3b (site symmetry m) and 36i (site symmetry 1), in which hydrogen can be inserted, and the maximum total absorption capacity can reach 1.21 wt% H₂. Electrochemical hydrogenation shows that the phase absorbs 1.03% of H₂, which indicates partial filling of the voids with H atoms.     

磷化镍修饰磷掺杂氧化镓可见光催化水分解产氢

以Ga₂O₃半导体为前驱体,用浸渍加低温磷化法制备了P掺杂Ga₂O₃表面修饰Ni₂P光催化剂(x-Ni₂P/Ga₂O₃-P_y,x代表Ni²⁺和Ga₂O₃的物质的量之比,y代表NaH₂PO·H₂O与Ga₂O₃的物质的量)。5%-Ni₂P/Ga₂O₃-P₆催化剂展现出在纯水中光催化析氢的高活性,在430 nm光照下的光量子效率为0.22%。机理研究结果表明Ni₂P修饰和P掺杂扩展了催化剂的光响应范围,同时提升了载流子分离迁移效率,其长周期光催化反应稳定性明显优于未磷化催化剂。     

介孔调控Co9S8/Ni3S2复合电极材料及电催化析氢性能

利用快速凝固结合化学脱铝模板法制备前驱体纳米多孔Ni-Co合金,再经气相沉积硫和热氢还原制备纳米多孔Co₉S₈/Ni₃S₂复合电极材料。研究表明,通过气相沉积,硫原子与Ni-Co合金原位生成CoS₂/NiS₂复合相,再经过热氢还原后,形成硫原子比例较低的Co₉S₈/Ni₃S₂复合相。该热氢还原过程不仅提高了Co₉S₈/Ni₃S₂各元素周围的电子密度,而且在其表面调制出有介孔结构的异质界面,进而提高其电子传输能力并增大活性比表面积。相比于其他同条件下制备的Ni、Co硫化物,Co₉S₈/Ni₃S₂拥有更佳的析氢反应（HER）活性,在50 mA·cm^-2的电流密度下,Co₉S₈/Ni₃S₂的HER过电位为234 mV,Tafel斜率为106 mV·dec^-1,经稳定性测试后,电压变化仅为14 mV。     

SIMS and AES measurements on the LaNi5-hydrogen system

Summary SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) and AES (Auger Electron Spectroscopy) investigations were carried out on polycrystalline LaNi₅ samples and on LaNi₅ samples, which have been loaded with hydrogen electrochemically. AES measurements show an enrichment of obviously oxidized La at the surface, while in the SIMS spectra the emission of negative ions attracts special attention. In contrast to the V-H- and Nb-H-system negative Me_xH_y-ions turned out to be the most sensitive species for hydrogen detection in SIMS experiments on LaNi₅. The emission of negative ions of type Ni_x and Ni_yH_x, which are not observed on pure Ni are due to the electropositive character of La in this special matrix and the presence of hydrogen. The results point to a higher affinity of hydrogen to Ni than to La.     

A Molecular Approach to Manganese Nitride Acting as a High Performance Electrocatalyst in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The scalable synthesis of phase‐pure crystalline manganese nitride (Mn₃N₂) from a molecular precursor is reported. It acts as a superiorly active and durable electrocatalyst in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) from water under alkaline conditions. While electrophoretically deposited Mn₃N₂ on fluorine tin oxide (FTO) requires an overpotential of 390 mV, the latter is substantially decreased to merely 270 mV on nickel foam (NF) at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 with a durability of weeks. The high performance of this material is due to the rapid transformation of manganese sites at the surface of Mn₃N₂ into an amorphous active MnO_x overlayer under operation conditions intimately connected with metallic Mn₃N₂, which increases the charge transfer from the active catalyst surface to the electrode substrates and thus outperforms the electrocatalytic activity in comparison to solely MnO_x‐based OER catalysts.     

Rationally Modulating the Functions of Ni3Sn2-NiSnOx Nanocomposite Electrocatalysts towards Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Identifying electrocatalysts with functions of easy dissociation of water, rapid transformation of hydroxyl and facile hydrogen-hydrogen bond formation are indispensable while challenge for realizing efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we presented the design of Ni₃Sn₂-NiSnO_x nanocomposites towards addressing this challenge. We showed that Ni₃Sn₂ possessed ideal hydrogen adsorption and low hydroxyl adsorption abilities and NiSnO_x facilitated water dissociation and hydroxyl transfer process, respectively. Consequently, the fine-tuned interplay of the two functional parts realized the mutual coordination among the multiple functions and led to significantly boosted HER kinetics. Current densities of 10 and 1000 mA cm⁻² were obtained at overpotentials of 14 and 165 mV on the optimized catalyst. This work highlights the significance of considering intrinsic interactions between active sites and all pertinent intermediates on obtaining promising electrocatalysts.