Self-supporting and hierarchically porous Ni_(x)Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) heterostructure as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for fluctuating overall water splitting

Stable non-noble metal bifunctional electrocatalysts are one of the challenges to the fluctuating overall water splitting driven by re-newable energy.Herein,a novel self-supporting hierarchically porous Ni_(x)Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) heterostructure as bifunctional electrocatalyst was constructed based on porous Ni-Fe electrodeposition on three-dimensional(3D)carbon fiber cloth,in situ oxidation,and chemical sulfuration.Results showed that the Ni_(x)Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) heterostructure with a large specific surface area exhibits good bifunctional activity and stability for both hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)because of the abundance of active sites,synergistic effect of the heterostructure,superhydrophilic surface,and stable,self-supporting structure.The results further confirmed that the Ni_(x)Fe-S phase in the heterostructure is transformed into metal oxides/hydroxides and Ni_(3)S_(2) during OER.Compared with the commercial 20wt%Pt/C||IrO_(2)-Ta_(2)O_(5) electrolyzer,the self-supporting Ni1/5Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4)||Ni1/2Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) electrolyzer exhibits better stability and lower cell voltage in the fluctu-ating current density range of 10-500 mA/cm^(2).Particularly,the cell voltage of Ni1/5Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4)||Ni1/2Fe-S/NiFe_(2)O_(4) is only approximately 3.91 V at an industrial current density of 500 mA/cm^(2),which is lower than that of the 20wt%Pt/C||IrO_(2)-Ta_(2)O_(5) electrolyzer(i.e.,approximately 4.79 V).This work provides a promising strategy to develop excellent bifunctional electrocatalysts for fluctuating overall water splitting.

Self-supporting and dual-active 3D Co-S nanosheets constructed by ligand replacement reaction from MOF for rechargeable Al battery

Metal sulfides with high theoretical capacities are expected as promising cathode materials of Al batteries(AIBs). However, powdery active materials are mainly synthesized and loaded on current collector by insulating binder without capacity. Meanwhile, S as inert element in metal sulfides can not usually provide capacity. So, powdery metal sulfides only exhibit limiting practical capacity and poor cycling stability due to weak conductivity and low mass utilization. Herein, the novel self-supporting and dual-active Co-S nanosheets on carbon cloth (i.e. Co-S/CC) with hierarchically porous structure are constructed as cathode of AIBs. Co-S nanosheets are derived from ZIF-67 nanosheets on CC by a facile ligand replacement reaction. As a result, the binder-free Co-S/CC cathode with good conductivity delivers excellent initial discharge capacity of 383.4 m Ah g^(-1)(0.211 m Ah cm^(-2)) at current density of 200 m A g^(-1)and maintain reversible capacity of 156.9 m Ah g^(-1)(0.086 m Ah cm^(-2)) with Coulombic efficiency of 95.8% after 500 cycles,which are much higher than those of the traditional slurry-coating cathodes. Both Co and S as active elements in Co-S/CC contribute to capacity, which leads to a high mass utilization. This work provides a significant strategy for the construction of self-supporting metallic cathode for advanced high-energy density Al battery.

Corrosion Performance of Carbon Steel in CO_(2) Aqueous Environment Containing Silty Sand with Different Sizes

Corrosion performance of carbon steel in CO_2 aqueous environment containing silty sand with different sizes was investigated by immersion tests and electrochemical measurements.Silty sand could form an adsorption layer on steel surface in initial period,and the sand adsorption layer was turned into a mixture film of silty sand with corrosion product in last period.The adsorption layer in 325 mesh condition(large size)had the fewest pores for H_2CO_3 transport,exhibiting the highest cathodic current inhibition.In spite of little corrosion product,the sand adsorption film formed in 325 mesh condition induced the lowest corrosion rate.For 1000 and 5000 mesh silty sand,the sand adsorption layer had some pores for H_2CO_3 transport,leading to low cathodic current inhibition and much matrix dissolution.But the adsorption layer for5000 mesh silty sand(small size)had the largest special surface area to accelerate heterogeneous precipitation of corrosion product FeCO_3.Therefore,the mixture film in 5000 mesh condition was more compact,exhibiting stronger anodic inhibition and lower corrosion rate than those in 1000 mesh condition.