Self-supported Ni2P nanosheets on low-cost three-dimensional Fe foam as a novel electrocatalyst for efficient water oxidation

Electrochemical water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen is a promising strategy for future renewable energy conversion devices.The oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is considered as the bottleneck reaction in an overall water splitting system because it involves 4e~- and 4H~+ transfer processes.Currently,it is highly desirable to explore low-cost alternative catalysts for OER at ambient conditions.Herein,we report for the first time that nickel phosphide(Ni_2P)nanosheets can be facilely grown on Fe foam(FF)as an efficient electrocatalyst for OER with excellent durability and catalytic activity under alkaline conditions.To reach a current density of 10 m A/cm~2,the Ni_2P-FF catalyst required a low overpotential of only 198 mV for OER.The catalyst’s high OER activity and durability were well maintained at a high current density.The required overpotentials were only 267 and 313 mV to achieve the current densities of 100 and 300 m A/cm~2,respectively.The combination of low-cost Fe foam with Ni_2P provides a promising low-cost catalyst for large-scale application of electrocatalytic water splitting.     

Network-like holey NiCo2O4 nanosheet arrays on Ni foam synthesized by electrodeposition for high-performance supercapacitors

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - To achieve high-performance supercapacitors, electrode materials with the accessible electrode area, electrons, and ions diffusion channels are strongly...     

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.     

Design of hierarchical double-layer NiCo/NiMn-layered double hydroxide nanosheet arrays on Ni foam as electrodes for supercapacitors

Reasonably designing the structure of composite materials and effectively increasing electroactive sites of electrode materials are considered as the promising approaches to enhance the electrochemical performance for supercapacitors. Herein, a double-layer layered double hydroxide nanosheet array grown on Ni foams is constructed through a facile two-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared double-layer electrode materials including Ni, Co, and Mn elements possess large surface area and porosity; thus, it can increase the contact between electrolytes and the electrode materials, which leads to an increase in electroactive sites and high electrochemical performance. The double-layer electrode shows a high capacitance performance (2950 F/g at 1 A/g) and superior cycling stability (79% retention after 10,000 cycles at 10 A/g). In addition, the asymmetric NiCo/NiMn-LDHs//AC device is fabricated and manifests good capacity with excellent cyclic stability of 82.2% after 10,000 cycles.     

Activating P2-NaxCoO2 for efficient water oxidation catalysis via controlled chemical oxidation

Electrocatalytic water oxidation is critically important for a wide range of emerging energy conversion devices. Co-based metal oxides are very promising candidates as high-performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts. Here, it is shown that chemical oxidation of layered P2-Na_xCoO₂ could lead to compositionally tunable P2-Na_xCoO₂ with high OER activity. The optimal electrocatalytic activity emerges in a narrow range of sodium concentrations with Na_0·28CoO₂ exhibiting the lowest overpotential of 350 mV at 10 mA/cm² and a Tafel slope of 29 mV/dec in 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte, outperforming the benchmark RuO₂ catalyst and previous LiCoO₂-based electrocatalysts. Electrochemical measurements and X-ray spectroscopic investigations reveal that chemically oxidized P2-Na_xCoO₂ catalysts are intrinsically active toward OER, arising from the abundant oxygen vacancies, increased Co-O covalency, and enhanced conductivity after deintercalation of the Na⁺. Our findings provide new insights into the design and synthesis of cost-effective catalysts toward efficient and durable OER.     

分级骨架和多层的Pt-Ni纳米晶体用于高效氧还原和甲醇氧化反应

燃料电池是电动汽车和电子设备最有前途的清洁能源之一.Pt催化剂在氧还原反应(ORR)和甲醇氧化反应(MOR)中的电催化性能对电池系统的能源效率和电池的价格起着至关重要的作用,因此设计高效的电催化剂以最大限度地提高铂的利用率,从而增强电催化效果、降低成本,已经成为燃料电池发展的一个重要方向.早期的研究表明,铂基催化剂可以有效地提高电催化性能,并且它们的组成和形貌被认为是影响催化剂活性的两个关键因素.至今,已合成出各种各样的Pt基催化剂,如Pt-Pb/Pt核壳纳米盘、Pt3Co凹面立方体、Pt-Cu-Rh纳米笼、Pt-Pd纳米枝晶等,其中纳米枝晶结构的催化剂表现出很好的氧还原性能,其高效的催化活性被认为是暴露出的较高的比表面积促进了电子转移以及拥有较多的Pt活性位点.本文采用简单的溶剂热法合成了具有大比表面积的Pt-Ni分层骨架结构(Pt-Ni HSNs)催化剂,为了验证反应物所起的作用,通过收集不同反应时间下的产物和控制单一变量,我们发现在合成配方中加入H2SO4是此类Pt-Ni纳米晶体成功生长的关键触发因素.在H2SO4的诱导下,Pt和Ni原子倾向于沉积在(111)面,促使Pt-Ni合金沿晶面方向生长为八面体结构,在此过程中发生了粒子自组装成长以及相分离过程,最后我们用酸蚀法制造了Pt-Ni HSNs,并通过TEM,XRD和XPS表征其微观结构及组成,证实了Pt-Ni HSNs已经形成合金结构.在酸性条件下,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中展示出比商业Pt/C更好的活性.在0.9 V时的质量活性为1.25 A mgpt–1,是商业Pt/C质量活性的8.9倍,并且在10000圈的耐久性测试中,Pt-Ni HSNs的质量活性仅仅损失了21.6％,远低于Pt/C损失的活性比例.Tafel曲线和旋转环盘测试结果表明,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中发生的是4电子过程,证实了它的高活性.另外,在酸性溶液中,Pt-Ni HSNs表现出了比商业Pt/C更好的MOR催化活性,且抗CO中毒能力更强.这可归因于两点:(1)Pt-Ni HSNs是由多个小颗粒组装而成,大大提高了与电解液的接触面积;(2)它独特的骨架结构减少了颗粒间团聚的可能性,有利于质子的转移.本文为设计先进的铂基电催化剂提供了一种新的自组装方法.     

分级骨架和多层的Pt-Ni纳米晶体用于高效氧还原和甲醇氧化反应

燃料电池是电动汽车和电子设备最有前途的清洁能源之一.Pt催化剂在氧还原反应(ORR)和甲醇氧化反应(MOR)中的电催化性能对电池系统的能源效率和电池的价格起着至关重要的作用,因此设计高效的电催化剂以最大限度地提高铂的利用率,从而增强电催化效果、降低成本,已经成为燃料电池发展的一个重要方向.早期的研究表明,铂基催化剂可以有效地提高电催化性能,并且它们的组成和形貌被认为是影响催化剂活性的两个关键因素.至今,已合成出各种各样的Pt基催化剂,如Pt-Pb/Pt核壳纳米盘、Pt3Co凹面立方体、Pt-Cu-Rh纳米笼、Pt-Pd纳米枝晶等,其中纳米枝晶结构的催化剂表现出很好的氧还原性能,其高效的催化活性被认为是暴露出的较高的比表面积促进了电子转移以及拥有较多的Pt活性位点.本文采用简单的溶剂热法合成了具有大比表面积的Pt-Ni分层骨架结构(Pt-Ni HSNs)催化剂,为了验证反应物所起的作用,通过收集不同反应时间下的产物和控制单一变量,我们发现在合成配方中加入H2SO4是此类Pt-Ni纳米晶体成功生长的关键触发因素.在H2SO4的诱导下,Pt和Ni原子倾向于沉积在(111)面,促使Pt-Ni合金沿晶面方向生长为八面体结构,在此过程中发生了粒子自组装成长以及相分离过程,最后我们用酸蚀法制造了Pt-Ni HSNs,并通过TEM,XRD和XPS表征其微观结构及组成,证实了Pt-Ni HSNs已经形成合金结构.在酸性条件下,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中展示出比商业Pt/C更好的活性.在0.9 V时的质量活性为1.25 A mgpt–1,是商业Pt/C质量活性的8.9倍,并且在10000圈的耐久性测试中,Pt-Ni HSNs的质量活性仅仅损失了21.6％,远低于Pt/C损失的活性比例.Tafel曲线和旋转环盘测试结果表明,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中发生的是4电子过程,证实了它的高活性.另外,在酸性溶液中,Pt-Ni HSNs表现出了比商业Pt/C更好的MOR催化活性,且抗CO中毒能力更强.这可归因于两点:(1)Pt-Ni HSNs是由多个小颗粒组装而成,大大提高了与电解液的接触面积;(2)它独特的骨架结构减少了颗粒间团聚的可能性,有利于质子的转移.本文为设计先进的铂基电催化剂提供了一种新的自组装方法.     

Constructing low-valent Ni nanoparticles for highly selective CO2 reduction

The electroreduction of CO₂（CO₂RR） into value-added chemicals is a sustainable strategy for mitigating global warming and managing the global carbon balance. However, developing an efficient and selective catalyst is still the central challenge. Here, we developed a simple two-step pyrolysis method to confine low-valent Ni-based nanoparticles within nitrogen-doped carbon（Ni-NC）. As a result, such Ni-based nanoparticles can effectively reduce CO₂ to CO, with a max...     

CeO2修饰Ni3S2纳米片用于高效电催化析氧

电化学水分解制氢作为重要的生产氢能的新能源技术,包括氢气析出反应(HER)和氧气析出反应(OER).然而,OER进行的是多步电子转移过程,动力学过程缓慢且过电位高,严重制约了电解水制氢的发展.因此开发低成本、高效稳定的非贵金属催化剂替代贵金属催化剂(RuO2,IrO2)来降低过电位,减少能源消耗十分必要.Ni3S2由于...     

在光催化还原CO2中具有高催化效率的八面体Cu2O修饰的TiO2纳米管

光催化还原CO2生成烃类燃料是一种可同时解决全球变暖和能源危机问题的最有效途径之一。尽管这方面的研究已经取得了一定的进展,但是整体的光催化转换效率还非常低。因此,需要发展更加高效的催化剂。由于半导体材料禁带宽度与太阳光谱相匹配,人们已经对其进行了广泛研究。其中TiO2因具有无毒、强氧化性以及良好的光学和电学性质等而成为最主要的研究对象。但是对于光催化还原CO2反应来说, TiO2仍存在很多不足,如只能吸收太阳光谱中的紫外光,光生载流子会快速结合,以及光生空穴的强氧化能力等,这些都限制了其光催化还原CO2的效率。采用窄禁带宽度半导体修饰TiO2是解决上述不足的有效途径之一。本文采用简单的电化学方法成功制备了一种由窄禁带半导体Cu2O修饰的TiO2纳米管(TNTs)的复合物,并运用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)以及X射线光电子能谱(XPS)表征了所制备复合物的形貌、化学组成和结晶度。表征结果显示,所制备的TiO2为整齐排列的纳米管阵列结构;复合物中的纳米颗粒为Cu2O;当电化学沉积Cu2O的时间为5 min时,得到的Cu2O纳米颗粒初步呈类八面体结构。随着沉积时间的增加, Cu2O颗粒尺寸增加,具有八面体结构。 XRD和XPS结果表明, TiO2纳米管为锐钛矿,八面体Cu2O纳米颗粒的主要暴露晶面为(111)面。我们还进一步研究了不同量Cu2O纳米颗粒修饰的TiO2纳米管复合物在可见光以及模拟太阳光下光催化还原CO2的能力。在可见光下,由于自身的禁带宽度,纯净的TiO2纳米管没有任何光催化还原CO2的能力;经过Cu2O纳米颗粒的修饰,复合物显现出明显的光催化还原CO2的能力,其中经过30 min Cu2O沉积的TNTs具有最高的光催化效率。在模拟太阳光下,经过15 min Cu2O沉积的TNTs具有最高的光催化效率。在所有光催化还原CO2过程中,主要碳氢产物为甲烷。为了深入地理解该复合体系在还原CO2中的高催化效率,我们对催化剂进行了进一步的表征。紫外-可见漫反射光谱表明, Cu2O八面体纳米颗粒的沉积将TNTs的吸收光谱拓展到了可见光区域,提高了复合物对太阳光的吸收能力。此外,我们还通过测试所制样品的光电流反应、荧光发射光谱以及电化学阻抗谱,研究了催化剂中光生电子和空穴的分离和迁移能力。结果表明,适量的Cu2O沉积提高了复合物对光的吸收能力,增加了光生载流子的数量,从而使更多的光生载流子参与光催化反应。综上,本文首次报道了八面体Cu2O纳米颗粒修饰TNTs复合物的光催化还原CO2的能力。在一定量的Cu2O纳米颗粒修饰下,该复合物在光催化还原CO2生成烃类反应中表现出高效性。经过一系列详细的表征和讨论,我们认为其高效性主要源于三个方面：(1) TNTs的管状结构为反应物的吸附提供了大量的活性位点,同时一维的管状结构更有利于光生载流子的运载,从而提高了电子和空穴的分离;(2) Cu2O纳米颗粒的修饰提高了催化剂对光的吸收,促进催化剂最大程度地利用太阳光;(3) TiO2和Cu2O之间导带以及价带位置的匹配,在减少光生载流子复合的同时也降低了TiO2价带上空穴的氧化能力,从而抑制了CO2还原产物的再氧化过程。     

Na0.11WO3 nanoflake arrays grown on Ni foam for high-performance supercapacitor

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method, nanoflake arrays constructed by Na0.11WO3 and amorphous NiO or Ni (OH)2 were successfully grown on Ni foam (NF)...     

Electrochemical performance of grown layer of Ni(OH)2 on nickel foam and treatment with phosphide and selenide for efficient water splitting

Active nanocomposites synthesized by the electrochemical approach play a vital role in energy generation, conversion, and storage technologies. Recently, scientists began to explore the use of earth-rich transition metal-based materials to replace precious metal-based catalysts. Transition metals (TMs) based nickel (Ni) and their pnictides compounds such as phosphides and selenides exhibit good activity for hydrogen evaluation reaction (HER) and the entire water electrolysis process. In this study, we first prepared Ni(OH)₂ and grown its layer on Ni foam (NF) and treated it with selenide (Se) and phosphide (P) then nickel-based selenide-phosphide catalyst (Ni–P–Se) was prepared by simultaneous selenization and phosphidation process for the first time. The as-obtained composite was then analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental mapping and transmission electron microscope (TEM) means to study the composition, structure, and micro-morphology of materials. Furthermore, we also observed electrocatalytic water splitting activity using electrochemical cell. The results of electrochemical tests depicted that the selenization and phosphidation treatments significantly enhanced the electrocatalytic HER activity of the starting materials. The overpotentials required for Ni–P–Se to reach 10 ?mA ?cm^?2 and 100 ?mA ?cm^?2 were only 242 ?mV and 282 ?mV. The Tafel slope of Ni–P–Se is 151 ?mV dec^?1, which is lower than that of nickel phosphide, selenide, and hydroxide indicating that selenide-phosphide enhances the HER reaction kinetics of the material, which in turn increases hydrogen output rate as compared with previous studies.     

Synthesis and characterization of anatase TiO_2 nanosheet arrays on FTO substrate

We have exploited a green approach to prepare layered titanate Na2- xHxTi2O5·H2O nanosheet arrays on FTO substrate by hydrothermal hydrolysis of titanium(IV) isopropoxide(TTIP) with aids of Na2 EDTA and TEOA as co-coordination agents, which were then treated by HNO3 to replace Na+by H+, followed by a calcination at 450 ℃ to topotactically transform into anatase Ti O2 nanosheet arrays. SEM, TEM, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy have been employed to characterize the nanosheet films. The Ti O2 nanosheet arrays were further applied as electron transport materials of CH3NH3 Pb I3perovskite solar cells, achieving power conversion efficiency of 6.99%.     

Me2-NHC based robust Ir catalyst for efficient water oxidation

Me(2)-NHC proved to be a valuable ligand in iridium catalyzed water oxidation reactions, both when carried out electrochemically as well as upon oxidation with cerium ammonium nitrate. Mechanistic data suggest that water oxidation occurs efficiently at a well defined iridium species via a mononuclear pathway.     

The Co_3O_4 nanosheet array as support for MoS_2 as highly efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

The electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) on a non-precious electrocatalyst in an alkaline environment is of essential importance for future renewable energy. The design of advanced electrocatalysts for HER is the most important part to reduce the cost and to enhance the efficiency of water splitting. MoS_2 is considered as one of the most promising electrocatalysts to replace the precious Pt catalyst.Herein, for the first time, we have successfully loaded MoS_2 electrocatalysts onto the Co_3O_4 nanosheet array to catalyze HER with a low onset potential of ~76 mV. The high hydrogen evolution activity of MoS_2 supported on the Co_3O_4 nanosheet array may be attributed to the increased active sites and the electronic interactions between MoS_2 and Co_3O_4.     

Gold nanoparticle decoration of insulating boron nitride nanosheet on inert gold electrode toward an efficient electrocatalyst for the reduction of oxygen to water

Overpotential for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at Au electrode is reported to be reduced by 0.27 V by the modification with boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) but oxygen is reduced only to H₂O₂ by 2-electron process at Au electrode. Here we demonstrate that the decoration of BNNS with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) not only reduces the overpotential for ORR further by ca. 50 mV, but also opens a 4-electron reduction route to water. Both rotating disk electrode experiments with Koutecky–Levich analysis and rotating ring disk electrode measurements show that more than 50% of oxygen is reduced to water via 4-electron process at Au–BNNS/Au electrode while less than 20 and 10% of oxygen are reduced to water at the BNNS/Au and bare Au electrodes, respectively. Theoretical analysis of free energy profiles for ORR at the BN monolayer with and without Au₈ cluster placed on Au(111) shows significant stabilization of adsorbed oxygen atom by the Au₈ cluster, opening a 4-electron reduction pathway.     

N,O共修饰的Ni纳米颗粒/氮掺杂介孔碳CO2高效电还原催化剂

利用可再生电力能源将CO2电还原(CO2RR)为高附加值燃料和化学品(CO、甲酸盐和碳氢化合物等)是一种高效、绿色的CO2资源化利用新技术.然而,由于CO2分子中双键难以活化,且存在析氢竞争反应,即使对于CO2电还原为CO这一简单反应,除少数贵金属(Au、Ag和Pd及其合金)外,当前大多数电催化剂对产物CO的选择性和活性仍较低.因此,开发高效、稳定且廉价的CO2RR催化剂具有重要意义.过渡金属Ni储量高、成本低,是潜在的CO2RR催化剂.然而,受限于Ni对*H及*CO等中间物种相对强的吸附能力,Ni基催化剂催化生成产物CO的活性和选择性较低.近年来研究表明,通过对Ni基材料进行表面修饰,可以调控Ni表面与中间物种的吸附强度,从而有效提升Ni基催化剂对CO2RR反应的活性和选择性.鉴于此,本文通过N,O共调控的策略对负载于N掺杂介孔碳上的Ni纳米颗粒进行表面修饰,制得的N,O-Ni/CMK3催化剂能够高效、高选择性地将CO2电还原为CO.X射线衍射、高角度环形暗场扫描透射电子显微镜和X射线光电子能谱等表征结果表明,N,O-Ni/CMK3中的Ni纳米颗粒由金属Ni核和N掺杂的NiO壳组成,即Ni纳米颗粒表面被N,O共调控,这种独特的表面使其表现出与金属Ni不同的CO2RR催化性能.电化学测试结果表明,在0.5 M KHCO3电解液中,N,O-Ni/CMK3催化剂表现出较好的选择性(生成CO法拉第效率达97％)、活性(CO分电流密度为13.01 mA cm?1)和转换频率(4.25 s?1).表征结果表明,N,O共同调控的Ni是该催化反应的活性中心.此外,得益于N,O共调控的Ni表面,N,O-Ni/CMK3催化剂比O调控的Ni催化剂具有更好的电化学稳定性.本文通过调节Ni催化剂的表面化学环境来调控催化剂与反应中间物种的吸附强度,显著提高了Ni基催化剂对CO2RR反应的催化活性和CO选择性,为开发高活性、高选择性的过渡金属催化剂提供了新思路.     

Nanostructured MnO2: an efficient and robust water oxidation catalyst

Nanostructured MnO(2) exhibits a high turnover frequency for oxygen evolution under visible light and high stability in strong acidic conditions.     

Facile synthesis of PtSnZn nanosheet thin film at oil–water interface by use of organometallic complexes: An efficient catalyst for methanol oxidation and p‐nitrophenol reduction reactions

PtSnZn nanosheet thin film with stable and high activity towards methanol electro‐oxidation was synthesized via a simple reduction of organometallic precursors including [PtCl₂(cod)] (cod = cis,cis‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene) and [Sn(CH₃)₄] complexes, in the presence of [Zn(acac)₂] (acac = acetylacetonate) complex at toluene–water interface. Catalytic activities of PtSnZn nanosheets were investigated in the p‐nitrophenol (p‐Nip) reduction and methanol oxidation reactions. The obtained results demonstrate that PtSnZn nanosheets exhibit a good electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation reaction, the catalytic activity of the PtSnZn nanosheets being at least 3.5 times higher than that of Pt nanoparticle thin film. Also, the apparent rate constant obtained for p‐Nip reduction with the PtSnZn nanosheets is at least 2.3 times higher than that for Pt nanoparticle thin film due to the appropriate interaction between platinum, tin and zinc metals and geometric properties of PtSnZn nanosheet thin film. Nanosheets are highly favourable for superior catalytic performances due to their geometric properties. A facile and efficient route was used to synthesize trimetallic alloy thin film at oil–water interface.