A Molecular Tetrahedral Cobalt–Seleno-Based Complex as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting

The cobalt–seleno-based coordination complex, [Co{(SePⁱPr₂)₂N}₂], is reported with respect to its catalytic activity in oxygen evolution and hydrogen evolution reactions (OER and HER, respectively) in alkaline solutions. An overpotential of 320 and 630 mV was required to achieve 10 mA cm⁻² for OER and HER, respectively. The overpotential for OER of this CoSe₄-containing complex is one of the lowest that has been observed until now for molecular cobalt(II) systems, under the reported conditions. In addition, this cobalt–seleno-based complex exhibits a high mass activity (14.15 A g⁻¹) and a much higher turn-over frequency (TOF) value (0.032 s⁻¹) at an overpotential of 300 mV. These observations confirm analogous ones already reported in the literature pertaining to the potential of molecular cobalt–seleno systems as efficient OER electrocatalysts.     

Flower-like Fe-Co-M (M=S,O, P and Se) Nanosheet Arrays Grown on Nickel Foam as High-efficiency Bifunctional Electrocatalysts

The development of highly efficient, inexpensive, abundant and non-precious metal electrocatalysts is the lifeblood of the hydrogen production industry, especially the hydrogen production industry by electrolysis of water. A Fe-Co-S/NF bifunctional electrocatalyst with nanoflower-like structure was synthesized on three-dimensional porous nickel foam through one-step hydrothermal and one-step high-temperature sulfuration operations, and the material displays high-efficiency electrocatalytic performance. As a catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction, Fe-Co-S/NF can drive a current density of 10 mA/cm² at an overpotential of 143 mV with a Tafel slope of 80.2 mV/dec. When it was used as an oxygen evolution reaction catalyst, it exhibits good OER reactivity with a low Tafel slope (82.6 mV/dec) and with requiring only 117 mV overpotential to drive current densities up to 50 mA/cm². In addition, the Fe-Co-S/NF//Fe-Co-S/NF electrolytic cell was assembled, an electrolysis voltage of 1.64 V is required to drive a current density of 50 mA/cm², which is one of the most active catalysts reported so far. This work indicates that the introduction of S, P and Se treating processes could effectively improve electrical conductivity of the material and enhance the catalytic activity of the material. This work offers an effective and convenient method for improving the morphology of the catalyst, increasing the surface area of the catalyst and developing high-efficiency and low-cost catalysts.     

Phosphating-induced charge transfer on CoO/CoP interface for alkaline H2 evolution

Designing non-noble metal electrocatalysts toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with high performance at a large current density is urgent. Herein, a CoO/CoP heterostructure catalyst (termed POZ) was designed by a phosphating strategy. The strong electron transfer on the interface of CoO/CoP was experimentally and theoretically proven. POZ showed a low overpotential of 236 mV at 400 mA/cm², which was 249 mV lower than non-phosphated sample. It also exhibited a remarkable solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 10.5%. In this work, the construction of CoO/CoP interface realized by a simple phosphating strategy could provide an important reference to boost the HER performance on those materials not merely metal oxides.     

非晶纳米材料用于电解水的研究进展

电催化水分解产氢作为一种有前途的制氢技术被全世界研究者广泛关注.然而,此领域仍然缺少一种高效、无污染的催化剂,以降低能耗,提升反应动力学,进而推进电解水的实际应用.近年来研究发现,具有短程有序、长程无序特征的非晶纳米材料在电解水领域表现出极其优异的性能.有趣的是,固有的无序结构赋予了非晶纳米材料丰富的高活性位点.鉴于此,本文综述了非晶纳米材料的制备策略以及表征方法,并且对其高活性来源进行了系统地分析.此外,本文通过分析近几十年的研究成果指出了非晶纳米材料在电解水领域面临的挑战和应用前景.非晶纳米材料的合成方法主要分为两类:直接合成和间接合成.直接合成主要包括:电沉积、光化学金属-有机沉积、气溶胶-喷雾辅助法、反胶束溶胶-凝胶法、水热法、共沉淀法和氧化还原法.其中,气溶胶-喷雾辅助技术可以通过控制母液中金属离子的浓度精准地控制非晶纳米材料中各种金属元素的组成,从而有目的地调控并优化催化活性.间接合成主要分为原位转化和非原位转化.原位转化是指晶体材料在反应过程中表面会原位转化为非晶结构作为反应的真实活性物质.非原位转化是指当纳米材料尺度非常小时,高表面能将会破坏材料的结晶度得到非晶材料.另外,非晶材料长程无序的特点给其表征带来极大挑战.目前,对于非晶材料表征的一般流程是:首先通过X射线粉末衍射确定非晶结构,并通过透射电子显微镜以及扫描电子显微镜探索其形貌结构;再通过选区电子衍射以及高角度环形暗场扫描透射电子显微镜进一步确定非晶结构;然后,通过能谱、电感耦合等离子体发射光谱和X射线光电子能谱分析其化学组成及化学态;最后,采用拉曼光谱和同步辐射数据提供晶体结构信息.本文对非晶纳米材料高活性的起源进行了探究.在电解水领域,非晶纳米材料通常表现出优于晶体材料的性能.优异的活性与活性位点数量的增多以及活性位点活性的提升有关:(1)非晶纳米材料具有长程无序的特征,可以暴露更多活性位点,并且其表面存在的大量悬挂键也可以作为活性位点;(2)非晶纳米材料的活性位点可以拓展至催化剂体相内部,大幅提升了活性位点数量;(3)非晶纳米材料结构灵活性高,活性位点在催化反应过程中可以转变成任意形状,提升了活性位点的活性;(4)非晶纳米材料的高韧性和应变能力赋予其较高的稳定性.非晶纳米材料已广泛应用于电解水领域,但仍然存在一些问题:(1)非晶纳米材料由于原子级结构不确定,其电催化机理很难探究;(2)理论模拟作为研究电化学反应途径的有力工具很难应用于非晶纳米材料的研究;(3)随着无序程度的增加,活性位点数量和活性逐渐增加,但电导率逐渐下降.尽管如此,由于非晶纳米材料结构灵活性高和自重组能力快速,人们对其在电解水领域的研究兴趣越来越大,并且该领域显示出良好的应用前景,高效非晶纳米材料的设计合成及其催化机理的研究将成为今后研究的重点.     

Ni(OH)2量子点助催化剂修饰α-Fe2O3光阳极增强光电分解水性能

氢气具有无毒、能量密度高以及燃烧过程零污染等优点,被誉为是未来代替化石能源的优质新型能源载体.探索高效的、可持续的制氢技术对氢气能源发展至关重要.其中,光电化学水分解电池以太阳能作为驱动力将水分解成氢气和氧气,是解决能源和环境危机的理想途径之一.α-Fe2O3是一种窄带隙(～2.1 eV)半导体,可以吸收约40％的太阳光,同时具有天然丰度高、成本低等优点,是目前备受关注的光阳极材料.然而,由于α-Fe2O3空穴扩散距离短和表面产氧动力学慢等缺点,导致α-Fe2O3的光电分解水效率仍然较低.针对上述问题,目前主要通过掺杂、构建异质结和负载助催化剂等手段来改善其性能.其中,负载助催化剂可以有效降低水氧化活化能和促进表面电荷分离,是改善光阳极性能的有效手段.本文采用离子吸附和螯合剂调控水解两步法,将Ni(OH)2量子点(Ni(OH)2 QDs)原位生长于α-Fe2O3表面,成功构建了Ni(OH)2 QDs/α-Fe2O3复合光阳极.透射电子显微镜结果表明,Ni(OH)2以直径为3–5 nm的量子点附着于α-Fe2O3纳米棒表面,并形成独特且牢固的异质结结构.光电水氧化性能表明,所制备的Ni(OH)2 QDs/α-Fe2O3光电阳极表现出良好的光电性能,其光电流达到了1.93 mA·cm?2(1.23 V vs.RHE),是单纯α-Fe2O3的3.5倍,且Ni(OH)2 QDs助催化剂使α-Fe2O3的起始电位降低了～100 mV.2 h稳定性测试结果表明,Ni(OH)2 QDs助催化剂在提升α-Fe2O3光电水氧化性能的同时,自身能够保持良好的稳定性,这在Ni(OH)2作为光电水氧化助催化剂的研究中较为少见.通过电化学活性面积、开路电压、电化学阻抗谱、注入效率和强度调制光电流谱等表征了Ni(OH)2 QDs对α-Fe2O3光阳极和电解液界面电荷传输的影响.结果表明,Ni(OH)2 QDs不仅能充分暴露水氧化活性位点,促进载流子在界面快速迁移,而且能有效钝化α-Fe2O3表面态,从而降低光生电子-空穴表面复合几率.本文可为多功能和高效量子点助催化剂/半导体光阳极的构建及在光电分解水制氢方面的应用提供一定借鉴.     

导电MOFs在能源转化中的应用

可再生能源供应方案包括析氢反应(HER)、析氧反应(OER)、氧还原反应(ORR)和二氧化碳还原反应(CO2RR)等多种反应,电催化剂对这些反应至关重要。到目前为止,已有一系列导电MOFs作为与能源相关电催化电极材料的报道。本文从提高MOFs导电能力和对产物的选择性、增强MOFs的化学稳定性及增加MOFs的反应活性位点等方面介绍了导电MOFs作为电催化剂的设计策略,重点综述了其在能源转化涉及的HER、OER、ORR以及CO2RR方面的应用,并从材料制备和应用需求角度出发, 对高性能导电MOFs材料在电催化领域所面临的挑战和前景进行了展望。     

Bi1-xFexVO4薄膜光阳极的制备及光电化学性能

采用一步滴涂法在掺氟二氧化锡(FTO)导电玻璃上制备了Bi_1-xFe_xVO₄(x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.40)薄膜, 表征了其结构、 形貌、 光学以及光电化学方面的性质. 结果表明, 掺入Fe后Bi_1-xFe_xVO₄薄膜的光电流密度与 BiVO₄薄膜相比均有所提高, 其中25% Fe-BiVO₄薄膜表现出最优的光电化学性能. 在0.1 mol/L磷酸缓冲溶液(pH=7.0)中, 1.23 V(vs. RHE)电势下25% Fe-BiVO₄薄膜的光电流密度为0.50 mA/cm², 与BiVO₄薄膜的0.15 mA/cm²相比提高了3倍多. 结合X射线衍射(XRD)、 拉曼光谱(Raman)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)表征结果证实Fe³⁺以FeVO₄的形式存在于Bi_1-xFe_xVO₄薄膜中, 形成了BiVO₄/FeVO₄复合物薄膜. 紫外-可见光谱(UV-Vis)结果显示, 所有Bi_1-xFe_xVO₄薄膜的禁带宽度均为2.4~2.5 eV. 25% Fe-BiVO₄薄膜光电化学性能的提升主要归因于光生载流子转移效率(η_trans)和分离效率(η_sep)的提高. 能级结构图表明, BiVO₄和FeVO₄之间可以形成Type Ⅱ型能级结构排列, 可以促进光生载流子的分离与转移, 是25% Fe-BiVO₄薄膜光电化学性能提升的内在机理.     

卤素驱动石墨二炔带隙的打开以实现光催化全解水

本文通过杂化密度泛函理论研究了卤素(F、Cl和Br)功能化的石墨二炔的能带结构. 结果表明修饰的石墨二炔的带隙能随着卤素原子对的增加而增加;同时,价带顶的位置受卤素原子电负性大小的影响：当石墨二炔表面的卤素原子数目相同时,卤素原子的电负性越大,改性后石墨二炔的价带顶的位置越深. 另外,计算结果表明石墨二炔的带隙可以通过不同卤素原子的适当混合修饰来有效调节,不同卤素原子混合修饰的石墨二炔的价带底和导带顶跨越了水的氧化还原电位. 通过热力学分析进一步证明,不同卤素原子混合修饰的石墨二炔比单一卤素修饰的石墨二炔表现出更好的光催化水全解反应活性. 这项工作对于如何设计更高效的全解水光催化剂提供了洞见.     

Cobalt oxide and carbon modified hematite nanorod arrays for improved photoelectrochemical water splitting

Given the proper band gap, low cost and good stability, hematite(α-Fe_2O_3) has been considered as a promising candidate for photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting, however suffers from the sluggish surface water oxidation reaction kinetics. In this study, a simple dip-coating process was used to modify the surface of α-Fe_2O_3 nanorod arrays with cobalt oxide(CoO_x) and carbon(C) for the improved PEC performance, with a photocurrent density at 1.6 V(vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) increased from 0.10 mA/cm~2 for the pristine α-Fe_2O_3 to 0.37 mA/cm~2 for the CoO_x/C modified α-Fe_2O_3 nanorods. As revealed by electrochemical analysis, thanks to the synergistic effect of CoO_x and C, the PEC enhancement could be attributed to the enhanced charge transfer ability, decreased surface charge recombination, and accelerated water oxidation reaction kinetics. This study serves as a good example for improving PEC water splitting performance via a simple method.     

Generalized viscosity implicit rules for solving quasi-inclusion problems of accretive operators in Banach spaces

The generalized viscosity implicit rules for solving quasi-inclusion problems of accretive operators in Banach spaces are established. The strong convergence theorems of the rules to a solution of quasi-inclusion problems of accretive operators are proved under certain assumptions imposed on the sequences of parameters. The results presented in this paper extend and improve the main results of Refs. (Moudafi, J Math Anal Appl. 2000;241:46–55; Xu et al., Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2015;2015:41; López et al., Abstr Appl Anal. 2012;2012; Cholamjiak, Numer Algor. DOI:10.1007/s11075-015-0030-6.). Moreover, some applications to monotone variational inequalities, convex minimization problem and convexly constrained linear inverse problem are presented.