红毛丹状磷化钴@钼钴氧空心微米小球用于碱性电催化析氢（英文）

氢气因其能量密度高、零排放和可再生的特点被广泛认为是最有前景的能源.电解水是一种产生高纯氢气的有效途径.目前,高性能的促进水电解的催化剂主要是贵金属材料,例如贵金属铂.然而,高成本大大阻碍了贵金属材料在电催化水分解中的广泛应用.因此,我们致力于研究具有高活性的非贵金属催化剂.因为电催化水分解析氢反应更容易发生在质子浓度高的条件下,所以研究碱性条件下催化析氢比研究酸性条件下催化析氢更具挑战性.在工业应用中,酸性电解质溶液对仪器设备的腐蚀性比碱性溶液更大,因此研究应用在碱性溶液中的析氢催化剂更有发展前景.过渡金属磷化物被广泛地研究作为高性能析氢电催化剂,然而过渡金属磷化物作为析氢催化剂的稳定性通常不是很好.我们通过钼元素的引入,提高过渡金属磷化物作为析氢催化剂的稳定性.电化学催化效率同样受到材料形貌和导电性的影响.大的比表面积有利于暴露更多的活性位点,使活性位点与电解质溶液的接触更加充分,有利于催化剂和溶液之间的传质.据报道,金属磷化物具有良好的导电性是由于磷化物中存在金属-金属键.所以合成具有大比表面积形貌的过渡金属磷化物材料能够满足析氢电催化剂对比表面积和导电性的两个需求.界面效应是调节催化剂性能的一个有效方法.析氢催化剂常常存在吸附质子能力过强或过弱、稳定性不好等问题.这些问题可以通过界面效应来解决.本文通过形成磷化估和钼钴氧的界面来调节改善磷化钴表面原来的电子密度,以达到理想的氢吸附自由能;同时此界面效应还能起到稳定催化剂性能的作用.本文首先采用水热法合成了红毛丹状钼钴氧空心微米小球前驱体.在钼酸根离子的引导下,利用奥斯特瓦尔德熟化原理一步实现了红毛丹状空心结构.前驱体再以次亚磷酸钠为磷源进行气相磷化,得到产物红毛丹状磷化钴@钼钴氧空心微米小球.通过扫描电镜和透射电镜对其红毛丹状空心结构进行了表征.利用X射线衍射和X射线光电子能谱等手段表征了材料的物相组成和价态分布.电化学测试均使用电化学工作站完成.该材料在碱性电解质溶液中展现了极好的电化学催化析氢性能,在电流密度为10 mA cm^-2时对应的析氢过电位仅为62 mV.在1 MKOH溶液中10 mA cm^-2电流密度下测试55 h,过电位仅增大约17 mV,显示了非常强的碱性析氢稳定性.得益于磷化钴和钼钴氧之间的界面效应,以及特殊的三维空心结构,红毛丹状磷化钴@钼钴氧空心微米小球表现出优异的析氢催化性能和稳定性.     

In-situ characterization of the electrochemistry of grain and grain boundary of an X70 steel in a near-neutral pH solution

An in-situ scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) was used to characterize microscopically the local electrochemistry of grain and grain boundary in an X70 steel in a near-neutral pH solution. It was found that the grain was anodic relative to the grain boundary. Localized corrosion, such as pitting, preferentially occurs on the grain, rather than on the grain boundary. Once a stress corrosion crack initiates from the corrosion pit, there is a higher electrochemical driving force for the crack growth within a grain than that at grain boundary. Therefore, the stress corrosion cracking follows a transgranular mode.     

Kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction on chromium,chromium oxide coated steel

The kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (h.e.r.) on tin-free-steels chromium-type (TFS-CT) in citric acid solutions between pH 2.0 to 5.0 have been investigated. TFS-CT materials consist of steel sheets electrolytically plated with light metallic chromium coatings which in turn are covered by much thinner films of chromium oxide. Anomalously high cathodic Tafel slopes for the h.e.r. have been found and explained utilizing the Meyer dual barrier model. A mechanism for the h.e.r. based on Langmuir (?→1) adsorption behaviour, electrochemical desorption as the rate-determining electrode reaction step and the dual barrier model is consistent with the experimental results.     

LED-compatible fluorosensor for measurement of near-neutral pH values

We report on an optical sensor material suitable for fluorimetric measurement of pH in the 6–9 range using a new, fully LED-compatible fluorescent dye. Its base form has a strong absorption between 580 and 630 nm that matches the emission band of conventional yellow or orange light-emitting diodes. Two kinds of dye immobilization are reported. The first is based on covalent binding to a cellulosic matrix and the resulting material is intended for use in sensing membranes. The second involves physical entrapment of the dye in a sol-gel matrix which can be used for optical fiber tip coating as well as in evanescent wave type sensors. Both kinds of sensor materials are studied with respect to dynamic pH ranges, response times, sensitivity toward ion strength, and stability.Dedicated to Professor G. Werner, Leipzig, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Bio-friendly synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles in aqueous solution at near-neutral pH and low temperature

ZnO nanoparticles are synthesized using a new bio-friendly method. The experimental conditions are very mild: aqueous solution at near-neutral pH and 37 degrees C. The as-obtained nanoparticles show the stable wurtzite structure without the need of annealing. The two reagents used are aqueous solutions of zinc nitrate and buffer tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane. This is a standard nontoxic buffer and inert to a wide variety of chemicals and biomolecules, therefore extremely satisfactory for biochemical reactions. Furthermore, this is a polydentade ligand which adsorbs strongly on one or more surfaces of ZnO inhibiting its crystal growth and yielding nearly spherical ZnO nanoparticles. Our objective is to use the crystallization method described here for further incorporation of biomolecules as additives in the reaction solution, aiming at the formation of ZnO with new physical properties.     

Core-shell fluorescent silica nanoparticles for sensing near-neutral pH values

pH-responsive fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were prepared by encapsulating the pH-sensitive fluorophore 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3, 6-trisulfonate into their silica shell via a facile reverse microemulsion method. The resulting SiNPs were characterized by SEM, TEM, fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy, photobleaching experiments, and photoluminescence. The core-shell structure endows the SiNPs with reduced photobleaching, excellent photostability, minimized solvatachromic shift, and increased fluorescence efficiency compared to the free fluorophore in aqueous solution. The dynamic range for sensing pH ranges from 5.5 to 9.0. The nanosensors show excellent stability, are highly reproducible, and enable rapid detection of pH. The results obtained with the SiNPs are in good agreement with data obtained with a glass electrode.

层状过渡金属氢氧化物应用于碱性氢气析出反应（英文）

氢气因为其高质量比活性,环境友好等特点,被公认为是一种很有希望替代化石能源的可再生能源.其中,碱性条件电解水被认为是可大规模生产氢气的技术之一.但氢气析出反应在碱性条件反应速率缓慢,为提升氢气析出反应速率,因此研究者们设计和制备了大量的材料.本文归纳了有效促进碱性条件氢气析出反应速率的关键材料——层状过渡金属氢氧化物的重要研究进展.首先,基于过渡金属氢氧化物的结构,阐述了过渡金属氢氧化物与氢气析出反应活性材料间的协同催化机理.接着,以提升协同催化作用为中心,归纳了基于过渡金属氢氧化物的氢气析出反应催化剂和电极的最近研究进展,分别包含过渡金属氢氧化物和氢气析出反应活性材料的种类、结构、形貌及其相互作用.此外,本文从高活性和长寿命的催化剂和电极设计出发,归纳了最近基于过渡金属氢氧化物的催化剂和电极在水分解领域的进展.最后,本文总结和展望了电解水制氢技术的未来应用和发展中不可避免的一些问题与挑战.目前,应用于氢析出反应的过渡金属氢氧化物主要集中于镍基、钴基和铁基氢氧化物和其双金属氢氧化物,为层状水滑石结构.因为上述过渡金属氢氧化物弱的氢吸附,所以其析氢活性非常低.但是过渡金属氢氧化物对氢氧根...     

Enhancement of hydrogen evolution activities of low-cost transition metal electrocatalysts in near-neutral strongly buffered aerobic media

The advantages of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in strongly buffered neutral pH are manifold including enhanced stability of the electrocatalysts, oxygen tolerance, safer and environmental friendly devices, etc., yet, not much research effort has been devoted on the subject. HER activities of several low-cost electrocatalysts like Mo₂C, MoS₂, CoSe₂ and NiSe₂ have been studied in sodium phosphate buffer solution of pH 5. An optimal buffer concentration of 1.75 M was observed for the electrocatalysts. Compared to un-buffered electrolyte, a reduction of about 100 mV in the onset overpotential has been achieved. The electrocatalysts are highly oxygen tolerant with more than 90% HER selectivities. Furthermore, electrochemical surface area of Mo₂C was evaluated by capacitance and surface oxidation methods to obtain an insight on the specific adsorption of buffer electrolytes.     

Fluorescence optical sensors for continuous determination of near-neutral pH values

The preparation and performance of two types of optical sensors for continous measurement of near-neutral pH values are described. the sensors are based on glass-immobilized fluorescent pH indicators and allow the determination of pHs in the range 6.4 to 7.7 with a precision of ±0.01 units. Response times are of the order of 1 min for 99% of the total signal change. Adverse effects of ionic strength are almost completely eliminated by appropriate treatment of the glass surface, thereby creating a well-defined and highly charged environment for the indicator. When the sensing layers are attached to the end of a bifurcated fibre optical light guide, a device for remotely sensing pH values is obtained.     

Acridinium salts as metal-free electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Here we report the purely organic metal-free electrocatalyst — acridinium salt 9-phenyl-10-methylacridinium iodide for hydrogen evolution reaction. A controlled potential electrolysis experiment in present 9-phenyl-10-methylacridinium iodide with a simultaneous gas chromatographic analysis confirmed the catalytic production of molecular hydrogen. The behavior of the catalytic wave is typical for a “total catalysis”. A mechanism involving initial reduction of PhAcr⁺/PhAcr and subsequent protonation is proposed.     

Phase engineering two-dimensional nanostructures for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

Hydrogen(H₂) is considered to be a promising substitute for fossil fuels. Two-dimensional(2D) nanomaterials have exhibited an efficient electrocatalytic capacity to catalyze hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Particularly, phase engineering of 2D nanomaterials is opening a novel research direction to endow 2D nanostructures with fascinating properties for deep applications in catalyzing HER. In this review, we briefly summarize the research progress and present the current challenges on...     

Copper phthalocyanine complex as electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

In this work, we have sought economically viable methods for hydrogen evolution reaction (her). For this purpose, we have investigated the voltammetric and in situ spectroelectrochemical behavior of copper phthalocyanine complex and its electrocatalytic activity for her. In spite of the belief that the complexes bearing redox active metal center can catalyze hydrogen evolution reactions, copper phthalocyanine having ring-based redox processes shows excellent electrocatalytic activity.     

Co porphyrin-based metal-organic framework for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction

Constructing molecule@support composites is an attractive strategy to realize heterogeneous molecular electrocatalysis. Herein, we synthesized metal-organic framework (MOF)-supported molecular catalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reaction (HER/ORR). Ligand exchange strategy was used to prepare molecule@support hybrids due to the same functional group. A series of hybrids were obtained using Co porphyrin (1) and different MOFs including MIL-88(Fe), MOF-5(NiCo) and UIO-66(Zr). The 1@MOF-5(NiCo) had the best HER and ORR activity compared with 1@MIL-88(Fe) and 1@MOF-5(NiCo). These hybrids also exhibited tunable selectivity for ORR with four-electron process, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect of porphyrin molecules and MOFs. This work provides a possibility for molecular catalysts to improve activity of HER and tune selectivity of ORR.     

New pyridinium based ionic dyes for the hydrogen evolution reaction

The presented work comprised the synthesis and characterization of new ionic organic dyes as potential photosensitizer (PS) in the photocatalytic H₂ evolution reaction. The presented dyes are consisting of donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) structures that are commonly used for organic dyes for organic solar cells. The acceptor is based on a cationic pyridinium moiety. Furthermore, a complex was synthesized, in which a D-π-A photosensitizer is linked as ligand to cobaloxime. The latter is a common proton reduction catalyst. The attached ligand enabled a fast intramolecular electron transfer to the cobalt center. The resulted complex showed high stability and potential in the homogeneous photocatalytic H₂ evolution reaction. Finally, one ionic dye showed a high activity when combined with TiO₂ and Pt in a heterogeneous hydrogen evolution reactions with a TOF of up to 407 h^?1.     

N-doped Mo2C nanoblock for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The development of Pt-free electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still desired in water-splitting as a clean energy. As a highly...     

Size-dependent catalytic activity of cobalt phosphides for hydrogen evolution reaction

Transition metal phosphides are a class of promising electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) to replace noble metals.In this work,we for the first time synthesize carbon supported CoP nanoparticles with the average particle sizes from 3.3 to 9.2 nm,via a solvothermal process followed by low-temperature topological phosphorization,and the size-dependent HER activity of the CoP is investigated by virtue of TEM,XRD,XPS and the electrochemical techniques.It is discovered that the 9.2nm-CoP particles possess high intrinsic HER catalytic activity as compared to the 3.3nm-CoP,although the smaller one displays a high mass activity due to the large surface area.Detailed studies manifest that the small CoP particles suffer from serious oxidation once exposing to air.In contrast,most cobalt remains in the quasi-metallic state in the relatively large CoP particles,which is beneficial for the desorption of Hads,the rate determining step of the HER process over CoP surface.In addition,the low charge transfer resistance across the liquid/solid interfaces also contributes to the excellent HER activity of the relatively large CoP particles.     

Auto-inhibition of hydrogen gas evolution on gold in aqueous acid solution

It was demonstrated recently that dramatic changes in the redox behaviour of gold/aqueous solution interfaces may be observed following either cathodic or thermal electrode pretreatment. Further work on the cathodic pretreatment of gold in acid solution revealed that as the activity of the gold surface was increased, its performance as a substrate for hydrogen gas evolution under constant potential conditions deteriorated. The change in activity of the gold atoms at the interface, which was attributed to a hydrogen embrittlement process (the occurrence of the latter was subsequently checked by surface microscopy), was confirmed, as in earlier work, by the appearance of a substantial anodic peak at ca. 0.5 V (RHE) in a post-activation positive sweep. Changes in the catalytic activity of a metal surface reflect the fact that the structure (or topography), thermodynamic activity and electronic properties of a surface are dependent not only on pretreatment but also, in the case of the hydrogen evolution reaction, vary with time during the course of reaction. As will be reported shortly, similar (and often more dramatic) time-dependent behaviour was observed for hydrogen gas evolution on other metal electrodes. Electronic Publication     

Growth of branched heterostructure of nickel and iron phosphides on carbon cloth as electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction under wide pH ranges

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Development of transition metal phosphides with tunable morphology and chemical composition is a potential way to construct electrocatalysts with superior...