Boosted Electrocatalytic Glucose Oxidation Reaction on Noble-Metal-Free MoO_(3)-Decorated Carbon Nanotubes

Electrocatalytic glucose oxidation reaction(GOR)has attracted much attention owing to its crucial role in biofuel cell fabrication.Herein,we load MoO_(3)nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes(CNTs)and use a discharge process to prepare a noblemetal-free MC-60 catalyst containing MoO_(3),Mo_(2)C,and a Mo_(2)C–MoO_(3)interface.In the GOR,MC-60 shows activity as high as 745μA/(mmol/L cm^(2)),considerably higher than those of the Pt/CNT(270μA/(mmol/L cm^(2)))and Au/CNT catalysts(110μA/(mmol/L cm^(2))).In the GOR,the response minimum on MC-60 is as low as 8μmol/L,with a steady-state response time of only 3 s.Moreover,MC-60 has superior stability and anti-interference ability to impurities in the GOR.The better performance of MC-60 in the GOR is attributed to the abundant Mo sites bonding to C and O atoms at the MoO_(3)–Mo_(2)C interface.These Mo sites create active sites for promoting glucose adsorption and oxidation,enhancing MC-60 performance in the GOR.Thus,these results help to fabricate more effi cient noble-metal-free catalysts for the fabrication of glucose-based biofuel cells.

Oxidation Evolution and Activity Origin of N-Doped Carbon in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

N-doped carbon materials,with their applications as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR),have been extensively studied.However,a negletcted fact is that the operating potential of the ORR is higher than the theoretical oxida-tion potential of carbon,possibly leading to the oxidation of carbon materials.Consequently,the infl uence of the structural oxidation evolution on ORR performance and the real active sites are not clear.In this study,we discover a two-step oxida-tion process of N-doped carbon during the ORR.The fi rst oxidation process is caused by the applied potential and bubbling oxygen during the ORR,leading to the oxidative dissolution of N and the formation of abundant oxygen-containing functional groups.This oxidation process also converts the reaction path from the four-electron(4e)ORR to the two-electron(2e)ORR.Subsequently,the enhanced 2e ORR generates oxidative H_(2)O_(2),which initiates the second stage of oxidation to some newly formed oxygen-containing functional groups,such as quinones to dicarboxyls,further diversifying the oxygen-containing functional groups and making carboxyl groups as the dominant species.We also reveal the synergistic eff ect of multiple oxygen-containing functional groups by providing additional opportunities to access active sites with optimized adsorption of OOH*,thus leading to high effi ciency and durability in electrocatalytic H_(2)O_(2) production.

Precision tuning of highly efficient Pt-based ternary alloys on nitrogen-doped multi-wall carbon nanotubes for methanol oxidation reaction

The electrochemical methanol oxidation is a crucial reaction in the conversion of renewable energy.To enable the widespread adoption of direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs),it is essential to create and engineer catalysts that are both highly effective and robust for conducting the methanol oxidation reaction(MOR).In this work,trimetallic PtCoRu electrocatalysts on nitrogen-doped carbon and multi-wall carbon nanotubes(PtCoRu@NC/MWCNTs)were prepared through a two-pot synthetic strategy.The acceleration of CO oxidation to CO_(2) and the blocking of CO reduction on adjacent Pt active sites were attributed to the crucial role played by cobalt atoms in the as-prepared electrocatalysts.The precise control of Co atoms loading was achieved through precursor stoichiometry.Various physicochemical techniques were employed to analyze the morphology,element composition,and electronic state of the catalyst.Electrochemical investigations and theoretical calculations confirmed that the Pt_(1)Co_(3)Ru_(1)@NC/MWCNTs exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance and durability for the process of MOR.The enhanced MOR activity can be attributed to the synergistic effect between the multiple elements resulting from precisely controlled Co loading content on surface of the electrocatalyst,which facilitates efficient charge transfer.This interaction between the multiple components also modifies the electronic structures of active sites,thereby promoting the conversion of intermediates and accelerating the MOR process.Thus,achieving precise control over Co loading in PtCoRu@NC/MWCNTs would enable the development of high-performance catalysts for DMFCs.

Revealing interfacial charge redistribution of homologous Ru-RuS_(2) heterostructure toward robust hydrogen oxidation reaction

Precisely tailoring the surface electronic structures of electrocatalysts for optimal hydrogen binding energy and hydroxide binding energy is vital to improve the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen oxidation reac-tion(HOR).Herein,we employ a partial desulfurization strategy to construct a homologous Ru-RuS_(2) heterostructure anchored on hollow mesoporous carbon nanospheres(Ru-RuS_(2)@C).The disparate work functions of the heterostructure contribute to the spontaneous formation of a unique built-in electric field,accelerating charge transfer and boosting conductivity of electrocatalyst.Consequently,Ru-RuS_(2)@C exhibits robust HOR electrocatalytic activity,achieving an exchange current density and mass activity as high as 3.56 mA cm^(-2) and 2.13 mAμg_(Ru)^(-1),respectively.exceeding those of state-of-the-art Pt/C and most contemporary Ru-based HOR electrocatalysts.Surprisingly,Ru-RuS_(2)@C can tolerate 1000 ppm of cO that lacks in Pt/C.Comprehensive analysis reveals that the directional electron transfer across Ru-RuS_(2) heterointerface induces local charge redistribution in interfacial region,which optimizes and balances the adsorption energies of H and OH species,as well as lowers the energy barrier for water formation,thereby promoting theHoR performance.

Pyridinic-N doping carbon layers coupled with tensile strain of FeNi alloy for activating water and urea oxidation

Exploitation of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and urea oxidation reaction(UOR)catalysts with high activity and stability at large current density is a major challenge for energy-saving H_(2) production in water electrolysis.Herein,we use the pyridinic-N doping carbon layers coupled with tensile strain of FeNi alloy activated by NiFe_(2)O_(4)(FeNi/NiFe_(2)O_(4)@NC)for efficiently increasing the performance of water and urea oxidation.Due to the tensile strain effect on FeNi/NiFe_(2)O_(4)@NC,it provides a favorable modulation on the electronic properties of the active center,thus enabling amazing OER(η_(100)=196 mV)and UOR(E_(10)=1.32 V)intrinsic activity.Besides,the carbon-coated layers can be used as armor to prevent FeNi alloy from being corroded by the electrolyte for enhancing the OER/UOR stability at large current density,showing high industrial practicability.This work thus provides a simple way to prepare high-efficiency catalyst for activating water and urea oxidation.

Electron-distribution control via Pt/NC and MoC/NC dual junction:Boosted hydrogen electro-oxidation and theoretical study

The scarcity,high cost and susceptibility to CO of Platinum severely restrict its application in alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).Hybridizing Pt with other transition metals provides an effective strategy to modulate its catalytic HOR performance,but at the cost of mass activity due to the coverage of modifiers on Pt surface.Herein,we constructed dual junctions'Pt/nitrogen-doped carbon(Pt/NC)andδ-MoC/NC to modify electronic structure of Pt via interfacial electron transfer to acquire Pt-MoC@NC catalyst with electron-deficient Pt nanoparticles,simultaneously endowing it with high mass activity and durability of alkaline HOR.Moreover,the unique structure of Pt-MoC@NC endows Pt with a high COtolerance at 1,000 ppm CO/H_(2),a quality that commercial Pt-C catalyst lacks.The theoretical calculations not only confirm the diffusion of electrons from Pt/NC to Mo C/NC could occur,but also demonstrate the negative shift of Pt d-band center for the optimized binding energies of*H,*OH and CO.

Microwave-assisted exploration of the electron configuration-dependent electrocatalytic urea oxidation activity of 2D porous NiCo_(2)O_(4) spinel

Urea holds promise as an alternative water-oxidation substrate in electrolytic cells.High-valence nickelbased spinel,especially after heteroatom doping,excels in urea oxidation reactions(UOR).However,traditional spinel synthesis methods with prolonged high-temperature reactions lack kinetic precision,hindering the balance between controlled doping and highly active two-dimensional(2D)porous structures design.This significantly impedes the identification of electron configuration-dependent active sites in doped 2D nickel-based spinels.Herein,we present a microwave shock method for the preparation of 2D porous NiCo_(2)O_(4)spinel.Utilizing the transient on-off property of microwave pulses for precise heteroatom doping and 2D porous structural design,non-metal doping(boron,phosphorus,and sulfur)with distinct extranuclear electron disparities serves as straightforward examples for investigation.Precise tuning of lattice parameter reveals the impact of covalent bond strength on NiCo_(2)O_(4)structural stability.The introduced defect levels induce unpaired d-electrons in transition metals,enhancing the adsorption of electron-donating amino groups in urea molecules.Simultaneously,Bode plots confirm the impact mechanism of rapid electron migration caused by reduced band gaps on UOR activity.The prepared phosphorus-doped 2D porous NiCo_(2)O_(4),with optimal electron configuration control,outperforms most reported spinels.This controlled modification strategy advances understanding theoretical structure-activity mechanisms of high-performance 2D spinels in UOR.

Interfacial Electronic Modulation of Dual-Monodispersed Pt–Ni_(3)S_(2) as Efficacious Bi-Functional Electrocatalysts for Concurrent H_(2) Evolution and Methanol Selective Oxidation

Constructing the efficacious and applicable bifunctional electrocatalysts and establishing out the mechanisms of organic electro-oxidation by replacing anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER) are critical to the development of electrochemicallydriven technologies for efficient hydrogen production and avoid CO_(2) emission. Herein, the hetero-nanocrystals between monodispersed Pt(~ 2 nm) and Ni_(3)S_(2)(~ 9.6 nm) are constructed as active electrocatalysts through interfacial electronic modulation, which exhibit superior bi-functional activities for methanol selective oxidation and H_(2) generation. The experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the asymmetrical charge distribution at Pt–Ni_(3)S_(2) could be modulated by the electronic interaction at the interface of dual-monodispersed heterojunctions, which thus promote the adsorption/desorption of the chemical intermediates at the interface. As a result, the selective conversion from CH_(3)OH to formate is accomplished at very low potentials(1.45 V) to attain 100 m A cm^(-2) with high electronic utilization rate(~ 98%) and without CO_(2) emission. Meanwhile, the Pt–Ni_(3)S_(2) can simultaneously exhibit a broad potential window with outstanding stability and large current densities for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) at the cathode. Further, the excellent bi-functional performance is also indicated in the coupled methanol oxidation reaction(MOR)//HER reactor by only requiring a cell voltage of 1.60 V to achieve a current density of 50 m A cm^(-2) with good reusability.

Carbon-doped CuFe_(2)O_(4) with C-O-M channels for enhanced Fenton-like degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride: From construction to mechanism

Carbon-doped copper ferrite(C–CuFe_(2)O_(4))was synthesized by a simple two-step hydrothermal method,which showed enhanced tetracycline hydrochloride(TCH)removal efficiency as compared to the pure CuFe_(2)O_(4) in Fenton-like reaction.A removal efficiency of 94%was achieved with 0.2 g L^(-1) catalyst and 20 mmol L^(-1) H_(2)O_(2) within 90 min.We demonstrated that 5%C–CuFe_(2)O_(4) catalyst in the presence of H_(2)O_(2) was significantly efficient for TCH degradation under the near-neutral pH(5–9)without buffer.Multiple techniques,including SEM,TEM,XRD,FTIR,Raman,XPS M€ossbauer and so on,were conducted to investigate the structures,morphologies and electronic properties of as-prepared samples.The introduction of carbon can effectively accelerate electron transfer by cooperating with Cu and Fe to activate H_(2)O_(2) to generate·OH and·O_(2)^(-).Particularly,theoretical calculations display that the p,p,d orbital hybridization of C,O,Cu and Fe can form C–O–Cu and C–O–Fe bonds,and the electrons on carbon can transfer to metal Cu and Fe along the C–O–Fe and C–O–Cu channels,thus forming electron-rich reactive centers around Fe and Cu.This work provides lightful reference for the modification of spinel ferrites in Fenton-like application.

Engineering hierarchical quaternary superstructure of an integrated MOF-derived electrode for boosting urea electrooxidation assisted water electrolysis

Controllable design of the catalytic electrodes with hierarchical superstructures is expected to improve their electrochemical performance.Herein,a self-supported integrated electrode(NiCo-ZLDH/NF)with a unique hierarchical quaternary superstructure was fabricated through a self-sacrificing template strategy from the metal–organic framework(Co-ZIF-67)nanoplate arrays,which features an intriguing well-defined hierarchy when taking the unit cells of the NiCo-based layered double hydroxide(NiCo-LDH)as the primary structure,the ultrathin LDH nanoneedles as the secondary structure,the mesoscale hollow plates of the LDH nanoneedle arrays as the tertiary structure,and the macroscale three-dimensional frames of the plate arrays as the quaternary structure.Notably,the distinctive structure of NiCo-ZLDH/NF can not only accelerate both mass and charge transfer,but also expose plentiful accessible active sites with high intrinsic activity,endowing it with an excellent electrochemical performance for urea oxidation reaction(UOR).Specially,it only required the low potentials of 1.335,1.368 and 1.388 V to deliver the current densities of 10,100 and 200 mA cm^(-2),respectively,much superior to those for typical NiCo-LDH.Employing NiCo-ZLDH/NF as the bifunctional electrode for both anodic UOR and cathodic HER,an energy-saving electrolysis system was further explored which can greatly reduce the needed voltage of 213 mV to deliver the current density of 100 mA cm^(-2),as compared to the conventional water electrolysis system composed of OER.This work manifests that it is prospective to explore the hierarchically nanostructured electrodes and the innovative electrolytic technologies for high-efficiency electrocatalysis.

Expediting^(*)OH accumulation kinetics on metal-organic frameworks-derived CoOOH with CeO_(2) “accelerator” for electrocatalytic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation valorization

In this work,nickel foam supported CeO_(2)-modified CoBDC(BDC stands for terephthalic acid linker)metal-organic frameworks(NF/CoBDC@CeO_(2)) are prepared by hydrothermal and subsequent impregnation methods,which can be further transformed to NF/CoOOH@CeO_(2) by reconstruction during the electrocatalytic test.The obtained NF/CoOOH@CeO_(2) exhibits excellent performance in electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(HMF) because the introduction of CeO_(2) can optimize the electronic structure of the heterointerface and accelerate the accumulation of ^(*)OH.It requires only a potential of 1.290 V_(RHE) to provide a current density of 50 mA cm^(-2) in 1.0 M KOH+50 mM HMF,which is 222 mV lower than that required in 1,0 M KOH(1.512 V_(RHE)).In addition,density-functional theory calculation results demonstrate that CeO_(2) biases the electrons to the CoOOH side at the heterointerface and promotes the adsorption of ^(*)OH and ^(*)HMF on the catalyst surface,which lower the reaction energy barrier and facilitate the electrocata lytic oxidation process.

Evaluating two stages of silicone-containing arylene resin oxidation via experiment and molecular simulation

Silicon-containing aryl acetylene resin(PSA)is a new type of high-temperature resistant resin with excellent oxidation resistance,whereas antioxidant reaction mechanism of PSA resin under ultra-high temperatures still remains unclear.Herein,the oxidation behavior and mechanisms of PSA resin are systematically investigated combining kinetic analysis and Reax FF molecular dynamics(MD)simulations.Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the oxidation process of PSA resin undergoes two main steps:oxidative mass gain and oxidative degradation.The distributed activation energy model(DAEM)is employed for describing oxidation processes and the best-fit one is obtained using genetic algorithms and differential evolution.DAEM model demonstrates that the oxidative weight gain stage is dominated by two virtual reactants and the oxidative degradation stage consists of three virtual reactants.Correspondingly,the observation of MD reaction pathways indicates that oxygen oxidation of unsaturated structures occurs in the initial stage,which results in the formation of PSA resin oxides.Furthermore,cracked pieces react with O_(2)to generate CO and other chemicals in the second step.The resin matrix's great antioxidation resilience is illustrated by the formation of SiO_(2).The analysis based on MD simulations exhibits an efficient computational proof with the experiments and DAEM methods.Based on the results,a two-stage reaction mechanism is proposed,which provides important theoretical support for the subsequent study of the oxidation behavior of silica-based resins.

Construction of Pd-doped RuO_(2) nanosheets for efficient and stable acidic water oxidation

RuO_(2) has been considered a potential alternative to commercial IrO_(2) for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)due to its superior intrinsic activity.However,its inherent structure dissolution in acidic environments restricts its commercial applications.In this study,we report a novel Pd-doped ruthenium oxide(Pd–RuO_(2))nanosheet catalyst that exhibits improved activity and stability through a synergistic effect of Pd modulation of Ru electronic structure and the two-dimensional structure.The catalyst exhibits excellent performance,achieving an overpotential of only 204 mVat a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2).Impressively,after undergoing 8000 cycles of cyclic voltammetry testing,the overpotential merely decreased by 5 mV.The PEM electrolyzer with Pd0.08Ru0.92O_(2) as an anode catalyst survived an almost 130 h operation at 200 mA cm^(-2).To elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the enhanced stability,we conducted an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)analysis,which reveals that the electron transfer from Pd to Ru effectively circumvents the over-oxidation of Ru,thus playing a crucial role in enhancing the catalyst's stability.Furthermore,density functional theory(DFT)calculations provide compelling evidence that the introduction of Pd into RuO_(2) effectively modulates electron correlations and facilitates the electron transfer from Pd to Ru,thereby preventing the overoxidation of Ru.Additionally,the application of the two-dimensional structure effectively inhibited the aggregation and growth of nanoparticles,further bolstering the structural integrity of the catalyst.

Metastable face-centered cubic ruthenium-based binary alloy for efficient alkaline hydrogen oxidation electrocatalysis

Metastable nanostructured electrocatalyst with a completely different surface environment compared to conventional phase-based electrocatalyst often shows distinctive catalytic property.Although Ru-based electrocatalysts have been widely investigated toward hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR)under alkaline electrolytes,these studies are mostly limited to conventional hexagonal-close-packed(hcp)phase,mainly arising from the lack of sufficient synthesis strategies.In this study,we report the precise synthesis of metastable binary RuW alloy with face-centered-cubic(fcc)phase.We find that the introduction of W can serve as fcc phase seeds and reduce the formation energy of metastable fcc-RuW alloy.Impressively,fcc-RuW exhibits remarkable alkaline HOR performance and stability with the activity of 0.67 mA cm_(Ru)^(-2)which is almost five and three times higher than that of hcp-Ru and commercial Pt/C,respectively,which is attributed to the optimized binding strength of adsorbed hydroxide intermediate derived from tailored electronic structure through W doping and phase engineering.Moreover,this strategy can also be applied to synthesize other metastable fcc-RuCr and fcc-RuMo alloys with enhanced HOR performances.

Enhancing the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Through Cascade Structure Tuning for Highly Stable Biomass Upgrading

Electrocatalytic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction(HMFOR)provides a promising strategy to convert biomass derivative to highvalue-added chemicals.Herein,a cascade strategy is proposed to construct Pd-NiCo_(2)O_(4)electrocatalyst by Pd loading on Ni-doped Co3O4 and for highly active and stable synergistic HMF oxidation.An elevated current density of 800 mA cm^(-2)can be achieved at 1.5 V,and both Faradaic efficiency and yield of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid remained close to 100%over 10 consecutive electrolysis.Experimental and theoretical results unveil that the introduction of Pd atoms can modulate the local electronic structure of Ni/Co,which not only balances the competitive adsorption of HMF and OH-species,but also promote the active Ni^(3+)species formation,inducing high indirect oxidation activity.We have also discovered that Ni incorporation facilitates the Co2+pre-oxidation and electrophilic OH*generation to contribute direct oxidation process.This work provides a new approach to design advanced electrocatalyst for biomass upgrading.

Antagonism effect of residual S triggers the dual-path mechanism for water oxidation

Transition metal chalcogenides(TMCs)are recognized as pre-catalysts,and their(oxy)hydroxides derived from electrochemical reconstruction are the active species in the water oxidation.However,understanding the role of the residual chalcogen in the reconstructed layer is lacking in detail,and the corresponding catalytic mechanism remains controversial.Here,taking Cu_(1-x)Co_(x)S as a platform,we explore the regulating effect and existence form of the residual S doped into the reconstructive layer for oxygen evolution reaction(OER),where a dual-path OER mechanism is proposed.First-principles calculations and operando~(18)O isotopic labeling experiments jointly reveal that the residual S in the reconstructive layer of Cu_(1-x)Co_(x)S can wisely balance the adsorbate evolution mechanism(AEM)and lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism(LOM)by activating lattice oxygen and optimizing the adsorption/desorption behaviors at metal active sites,rather than change the reaction mechanism from AEM to LOM.Following such a dual-path OER mechanism,Cu_(0.4)Co_(0.6)S-derived Cu_(0.4)Co_(0.6)OSH not only overcomes the restriction of linear scaling relationship in AEM,but also avoids the structural collapse caused by lattice oxygen migration in LOM,so as to greatly reduce the OER potential and improved stability.

Recent Advances in the Comprehension and Regulation of Lattice Oxygen Oxidation Mechanism in Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Water electrolysis,a process for producing green hydrogen from renewable energy,plays a crucial role in the transition toward a sustainable energy landscape and the realization of the hydrogen economy.Oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is a critical step in water electrolysis and is often limited by its slow kinetics.Two main mechanisms,namely the adsorbate evolution mechanism(AEM)and lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism(LOM),are commonly considered in the context of OER.However,designing efficient catalysts based on either the AEM or the LOM remains a topic of debate,and there is no consensus on whether activity and stability are directly related to a certain mechanism.Considering the above,we discuss the characteristics,advantages,and disadvantages of AEM and LOM.Additionally,we provide insights on leveraging the LOM to develop highly active and stable OER catalysts in future.For instance,it is essential to accurately differentiate between reversible and irreversible lattice oxygen redox reactions to elucidate the LOM.Furthermore,we discuss strategies for effectively activating lattice oxygen to achieve controllable steady-state exchange between lattice oxygen and an electrolyte(OH^(-)or H_(2)O).Additionally,we discuss the use of in situ characterization techniques and theoretical calculations as promising avenues for further elucidating the LOM.

Metal-organic framework-based materials as key components in electrocatalytic oxidation and reduction reactions

Studies have extensively addressed the development of electrocatalytic technologies for energy storage and conversion,fuel production,and environmental protection.Electrode processes such as different oxidation and reduction reactions play a vital and significant role in these technologies.In this regard,efficient,inexpensive,and stable electrocatalysts capable can significantly promote electrochemical reactions.Unique features of metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)such as their high porosity,tunable structure,size,and pore shape,high surface area,and redox properties have introduced them as an ideal electrocatalyst candidate.This review is thus aimed at elucidating the role of MOF-based materials(pristine,derivatives and composites)as efficient electrocatalysts in energy and sensing-related oxidation and reduction reactions such as oxygen reduction reaction(ORR),hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR),carbon dioxide reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),urea oxidation reaction(UOR),alcohol oxidation reaction(AOR),nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR),and glucose oxidation reaction(GOR)in advanced energy and sensing devices.Also,the structure–property relationship of the electrocatalyst was elaborated for each electrocatalytic reaction.Finally,perspectives on the potential research topics for practical use of MOF-based electrocatalysts are addressed.The present review can improve the interest in MOF-based electrocatalysts to study different oxidation and reduction reactions in energy and sensing systems.

RuO_(2)-PdO nanowire networks with rich interfaces and defects supported on carbon toward the efficient alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction

Interfacial engineering is a promising approach for enhancing electrochemical performance,but rich and efficient interfacial active sites remain a challenge in fabrication.Herein,RuO_(2)-PdO heterostructure nanowire networks(NWs) with rich interfaces and defects supported on carbon(RuO_(2)-PdO NWs/C) for alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR) was formed by a seed induction-oriented attachment-thermal treatment method for the first time.As expected,the RuO_(2)-PdO NWs/C(72.8% Ru atomic content in metal) exhibits an excellent activity in alkaline HOR with a mass specific exchange current density(jo,m) of 1061 A gRuPd-1,which is 3.1 times of commercial Pt/C and better than most of the reported nonPt noble metal HOR electrocatalysts.Even at the high potential(~0.5 V vs.RHE) or the presence of CO(5 vol%),the RuO_(2)-PdO NWs/C still effectively catalyzes the alkaline HOR.Structure/electrochemical analysis and theoretical calculations reveal that the interfaces between RuO_(2) and PdO act as the active sites.The electronic interactions between the two species and the rich defects for the interfacial active sites weaken the adsorption of Had,also strengthen the adsorption of OHad,and accelerate the alkaline HOR process.Moreover,OHadon RuO_(2) can spillover to the interfaces,keeping the RuO_(2)-PdO NWs/C with the stable current density at higher potential and high resistance to CO poisoning.

Efficient solar fuel production enabled by an iodide oxidation reaction on atomic layer deposited MoS_(2)

Oxygen evolution reaction(OER)as a half-anodic reaction of water splitting hinders the overall reaction efficiency owing to its thermodynamic and kinetic limitations.Iodide oxidation reaction(IOR)with low thermodynamic barrier and rapid reaction kinetics is a promising alternative to the OER.Herein,we present a molybdenum disulfide(MoS_(2))electrocatalyst for a high-efficiency and remarkably durable anode enabling IOR.MoS_(2)nanosheets deposited on a porous carbon paper via atomic layer deposition show an IOR current density of 10 mA cm^(–2)at an anodic potential of 0.63 V with respect to the reversible hydrogen electrode owing to the porous substrate as well as the intrinsic iodide oxidation capability of MoS_(2)as confirmed by theoretical calculations.The lower positive potential applied to the MoS_(2)-based heterostructure during IOR electrocatalysis prevents deterioration of the active sites on MoS_(2),resulting in exceptional durability of 200 h.Subsequently,we fabricate a two-electrode system comprising a MoS_(2)anode for IOR combined with a commercial Pt@C catalyst cathode for hydrogen evolution reaction.Moreover,the photovoltaic–electrochemical hydrogen production device comprising this electrolyzer and a single perovskite photovoltaic cell shows a record-high current density of 21 mA cm^(–2)at 1 sun under unbiased conditions.