电化学形成的PtFeNi合金与含缺陷NiFe LDHs载体之间的电荷转移实现高效水分解

氢气是一种能量密度高,可完全燃烧的清洁能源.发展绿色制氢技术对于解决全球环境污染,二氧化碳排放等环境问题具有重要意义.电化学水分解被认为是一种清洁高效的制氢手段,可自恰于可再生能源的波动性,具有效率高、响应快、氢气纯度高等优点.然而,由于电化学反应过电位大及动力学缓慢的原因,驱动电化学水分解的能量消耗巨大.因此,开发高效稳定的双功能电解水催化剂对于制氢和减少能源消耗至关重要.研究表明,催化剂催化活性中心和载体之间的电荷转移策略是调节催化剂局部电子结构,提升电催化反应性能的有效手段.本文利用简单的电化学循环伏安法在电化学反应池中将微量的Pt锚定到含缺陷的NiFe LDHs载体上.通过调节循环伏安曲线圈数,制备了一系列的PtFeNi合金/NiFe LDHs催化剂.由于NiFe LDHs载体缺陷位点周围的不饱和配位结构,Pt原子容易被缺陷捕获锚定形成成核位点,同时NiFe LDHs中缺陷位点周围的Fe,Ni原子更容易被电化学还原,与被缺陷捕获的Pt原子原位结合形成PtFeNi合金纳米粒子,最终形成PtFeNi合金/NiFe LDHs催化剂.通过对催化剂结构和表面价态的分析,构建了相应的模型催化剂.理论计算结果表明,PtFeNi合金纳米粒子和NiFe LDHs载体之间存在电荷转移再分布现象,优化了析氢反应(HER)和析氧反应(OER)中间体的吸附,可以提高HER和OER的电催化活性.实验结果表明,PtFeNi合金/NiFe LDHs异质结构催化剂分别表现出超高的OER和HER双功能催化活性.在100 mA cm^(–2)电流密度下,HER的过电位仅为81 mV,优于商业化的Pt/C催化剂,同时OER的过电位仅为243 mV,优于商业化的IrO_(2)和大多数LDHs电催化剂,且该催化剂都能稳定运行24 h.两电极碱性电解槽测试表明,只需要1.495和1.578 V电压就可分别达到10和100 mA cm^(–2)的电流密度,快速产生氢气和氧气.因此,PtFeNi合金/NiFe LDHs催化剂在碱性条件电解水制氢方面具有非常好的发展前景.同时,本文不但展示了一种独特的缺陷锚定合金纳米粒子,构建纳米异质结催化剂的方法,且发现合金纳米粒子和缺陷载体之间存在电荷转移再分布现象,能够优化电催化反应中间体的吸附,极大地提升电催化反应性能.

Transforming Co3O4 nanosheets into porous N-doped CoxOy nanosheets with oxygen vacancies for the oxygen evolution reaction

Cobalt oxides have been widely investigated as promising replacements for noble metal-based catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction(OER). Herein, we, for the first time, have obtained porous CoxOy nanosheets with N-doping and oxygen vacancies by etching Co3O4 nanosheets with NH3 plasma. Comparing with the pristine Co3O4 nanosheets(1.79 V), the porous CoxOy nanosheets with N-doping and oxygen vacancies have a much lower potential of 1.51 V versus RHE to reach the current density of 10 mA cm-2. The obtained sample has a lower Tafel slope of 68 m V dec-1 than the pristine Co3O4 nanosheets(234 mV dec-1).The disclosed Co^2+, which is responsible for the formation of active sites(CoOOH), N-doping and oxygen vacancies, gives rise to better performance of OER.

Recent advances in defect electrocatalysts: Preparation and characterization

the types and strategies used to prepare defect electrocatalysts will continue to be studied and developed as new defective materials are generated.4. Characterization of defectsThis review briefly summarizes recent progress in defect electrocatalysts, and the synthesis strategies and characterization techniques for defects are systematically discussed. Although challenges in the characterization of defect structures in the electrocatalytic reaction process remain, the dynamic evolution of defect sites is predicted to be helpful for designing and preparing high-performance electrocatalysts for commercial applications. Furthermore, due to an insufficient understanding of the defect-structureproperty relationships, future possibilities for the reasonable design of defect electrocatalysts to obtain desirable performance are suggested.

Activity origin and alkalinity effect of electrocatalytic biomass oxidation on nickel nitride

Electro-oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(HMFOR)is a promising green approach to realize the conversion of biomass into value-added chemicals.However,considering the complexity of the molecular structure of HMF,an in-depth understanding of the electrocatalytic behavior of HMFOR has rarely been investigated.Herein,the electrocatalytic mechanism of HMFOR on nickel nitride(Ni3 N)is elucidated by operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS),in situ Raman,quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and operando electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),respectively.The activity origin is proved to be Ni^(2+δ)N(OH)ads generated by the adsorbed hydroxyl group.Moreover,HMFOR on Ni3 N relates to a two-step reaction:Initially,the applied potential drives Ni atoms to lose electrons and adsorb OH-after 1.35 VRHE,giving rise to Ni^(2+δ)N(OH)ads with the electrophilic oxygen;then Ni^(2+δ)N(OH)ads seizes protons and electrons from HMF and leaves as H_(2) O spontaneously.Furthermore,the high electrolyte alkalinity favors the HMFOR process due to the increased active species(Ni^(2+δ)N(OH)ads)and the enhanced adsorption of HMF on the Ni3 N surface.This work could provide an in-depth understanding of the electrocatalytic mechanism of HMFOR on Ni3 N and demonstrate the alkalinity effect of the electrolyte on the electrocatalytic performance of HMFOR.

Activation of iridium site by anchoring ruthenium atoms on defects for efficient anodic catalyst in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers

1.Introduction Hydrogen is an ideal energy carrier to tackle the energy crisis and greenhouse effect,because of its high energy density and low emission.The production,storage and transportation of hydrogen are key factors to the practical application of hydrogen energy.As the scientific and technological understanding of the electrochemical devices was advancing in the past few decades,water electrolyzers based on the proton exchange membrane (PEM) have attracted much focus for its huge potential on the production of hydrogen via water splitting.PEM electrolyzers use perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) based membranes as the electrolyte.

Activating surface atoms of high entropy oxides for enhancing oxygen evolution reaction

High entropy oxides(HEOs) have attracted extensive attention of researchers due to their remarkable properties. The electrocatalytic activity of electrocatalysts is closely related to the reactivity of their surface atoms which usually shows a positive correlation. Excellenet stability of HEOs leads to their surface atoms with relative poor reactivity, limiting the applications for electrocatalysis. Therefore, it is significant to activate surface atoms of HEOs. Constructing amorphous structure, introducing oxygen defects and leaching are very effective strategies to improve the reactivity of surface atoms. Herein, to remove chemical inert, low-crystallinity(Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Zn)_(3)O_(4) (HEO-Origin) nanosheets with abundant oxygen vacancies was synthesized, showing an excellent catalytic activity with an overpotential of 265 mV at 10 mA/cm^(2), which outperforms as-synthesized HEO-500℃-air(335 mV). The excellent catalytic performance of HEO-Origin can be attributed to high activity surface atoms, the introduction of oxygen defects efficiently altered electron distribution on the surface of HEO-Origin. Apart from, HEO-Origin also exhibits an outstanding electrochemical stability for oxygen evolution reaction(OER).

Circumjacent distribution pattern of the Lungmachian graptolitic black shale(early Silurian) on the Yichang Uplift and its peripheral region

Stratigraphic hiatuses of variable time intervals within the Rhuddanian to early Aeronian(Llandovery, Silurian) are identified in the area bordering East Chongqing, West Hubei and Northwest Hunan in central China. Their distribution suggested the existence of a local uplift, traditionally named the Yichang Uplift. The diachronous nature of the basal black shale of the Lungmachi Formation crossing different belts of this Uplift signifies the various developing stages during the uplifting process.The present paper defines the temporal and spatial distribution pattern of the Yichang Uplift, which might be one of the important controlling factors for the preservation and distribution of the shale gas in this region, as it has been demonstrated that the shale gas exploration is generally less promising in the areas where more of the basal part of the Lungmachi Formation is missing.Therefore, better understanding of the circumjacent distribution pattern developed throughout the uplifting process may provide the important guidance for the shale gas exploration. The present work is a sister study to the published paper, "Stage-progressive distribution pattern of the Lungmachian black graplolitic shales from Guizhou to Chongqing, Central China". These two studies thus provide a complete Ordovician-Silurian black shale distribution pattern in the Middle and Upper Yangtze, a region with the major shale gas fields in China.