Hydrogen evolution by electrocatalysis clean energy. However, it is challenging is an attractive method of supplying to find cheap and efficient alternatives to rare and expensive platinum based catalysts. Pt provides...Hydrogen evolution by electrocatalysis clean energy. However, it is challenging is an attractive method of supplying to find cheap and efficient alternatives to rare and expensive platinum based catalysts. Pt provides the best hydrogen evolution performance, because it optimally balances the free energies of adsorption and desorption. Appropriate control of these quantities is essential for producing an efficient electrocatalyst. We demonstrate, based on first principles calculations, a stepwise designed Rh-Au-Si ternary catalyst, in which adsorption (the Volmer reaction) and desorption (the Heyrovsky reaction) take place on Rh and Si surfaces, respectively. The intermediate Au surface plays a vital role by promoting hydrogen diffusion from the Rh to the Si surface. Theoretical predictions have been explored extensively and verified by experimental observations. The optimized catalyst (Rh-Au-SiNW-2) has a com- position of 2.2:28.5:69.3 (Rh:Au:Si mass ratio) and exhibits a Tafel slope of 24.0 mV.dec-L Its electrocatalytic activity surpasses that of a commercial 40 wt.% Pt/C catalyst at overpotentials above 0.19 V by exhibiting a current density of greater than 108 mA-cm-2. At 0.3 V overpotential, the turnover frequency of Rh-Au-SiNW-2 is 10.8 times greater than that of 40 wt.% Pt/C. These properties may open new directions in the stepwise design of highly efficient catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).展开更多
In this paper, Ni-Co coatings were electrodeposited onto carbon steel substrates with the aid of ultrasonic agitation. The coatings were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis...In this paper, Ni-Co coatings were electrodeposited onto carbon steel substrates with the aid of ultrasonic agitation. The coatings were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of the ultrasonic frequency on the roughness, hardness and corrosion resistance of the Ni-Co coatings were also investigated. The results indicated that the increase of the ultrasonic frequency from 20 to 120 kHz reduced the Ni content and the grain size of Ni-Co coatings. Moreover, the phase structure of the electrodeposited coatings was influenced by the ultrasonic frequency. Under 55 kHz ultrasonic agitation, the Ni-Co coating was single fcc phase and showed the finest roughness and the strongest corrosion resistance in 5 wt.% NaCl solution at the ambient temperature. Under ultrasonic agitation with frequency of 90 kHz, the coating was a mixture of fcc and hcp structure and showed the maximal hardness of about 420 HV. Therefore, ultrasonic agitation helped decrease the roughness, and enhance hardness and corrosion resistance of Ni-Co coatings.展开更多
文摘Hydrogen evolution by electrocatalysis clean energy. However, it is challenging is an attractive method of supplying to find cheap and efficient alternatives to rare and expensive platinum based catalysts. Pt provides the best hydrogen evolution performance, because it optimally balances the free energies of adsorption and desorption. Appropriate control of these quantities is essential for producing an efficient electrocatalyst. We demonstrate, based on first principles calculations, a stepwise designed Rh-Au-Si ternary catalyst, in which adsorption (the Volmer reaction) and desorption (the Heyrovsky reaction) take place on Rh and Si surfaces, respectively. The intermediate Au surface plays a vital role by promoting hydrogen diffusion from the Rh to the Si surface. Theoretical predictions have been explored extensively and verified by experimental observations. The optimized catalyst (Rh-Au-SiNW-2) has a com- position of 2.2:28.5:69.3 (Rh:Au:Si mass ratio) and exhibits a Tafel slope of 24.0 mV.dec-L Its electrocatalytic activity surpasses that of a commercial 40 wt.% Pt/C catalyst at overpotentials above 0.19 V by exhibiting a current density of greater than 108 mA-cm-2. At 0.3 V overpotential, the turnover frequency of Rh-Au-SiNW-2 is 10.8 times greater than that of 40 wt.% Pt/C. These properties may open new directions in the stepwise design of highly efficient catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
基金financially supported by the National Nature Science Fund of China(No.51204115)
文摘In this paper, Ni-Co coatings were electrodeposited onto carbon steel substrates with the aid of ultrasonic agitation. The coatings were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of the ultrasonic frequency on the roughness, hardness and corrosion resistance of the Ni-Co coatings were also investigated. The results indicated that the increase of the ultrasonic frequency from 20 to 120 kHz reduced the Ni content and the grain size of Ni-Co coatings. Moreover, the phase structure of the electrodeposited coatings was influenced by the ultrasonic frequency. Under 55 kHz ultrasonic agitation, the Ni-Co coating was single fcc phase and showed the finest roughness and the strongest corrosion resistance in 5 wt.% NaCl solution at the ambient temperature. Under ultrasonic agitation with frequency of 90 kHz, the coating was a mixture of fcc and hcp structure and showed the maximal hardness of about 420 HV. Therefore, ultrasonic agitation helped decrease the roughness, and enhance hardness and corrosion resistance of Ni-Co coatings.