Optimization Strategies of Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3) Cathode Materials for Sodium‑Ion Batteries

Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)(NVP)has garnered great attentions as a prospective cathode material for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)by virtue of its decent theoretical capacity,superior ion conductivity and high structural stability.However,the inherently poor electronic conductivity and sluggish sodium-ion diffusion kinetics of NVP material give rise to inferior rate performance and unsatisfactory energy density,which strictly confine its further application in SIBs.Thus,it is of significance to boost the sodium storage performance of NVP cathode material.Up to now,many methods have been developed to optimize the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material.In this review,the latest advances in optimization strategies for improving the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material are well summarized and discussed,including carbon coating or modification,foreign-ion doping or substitution and nanostructure and morphology design.The foreign-ion doping or substitution is highlighted,involving Na,V,and PO_(4)^(3−)sites,which include single-site doping,multiple-site doping,single-ion doping,multiple-ion doping and so on.Furthermore,the challenges and prospects of high-performance NVP cathode material are also put forward.It is believed that this review can provide a useful reference for designing and developing high-performance NVP cathode material toward the large-scale application in SIBs.

Preferentially selective extraction of lithium from spent LiCoO_(2)cathodes by medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting

Lithium recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have attracted extensive attention due to the skyrocketing price of lithium.The medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting was proposed to preferential selective extraction of lithium from spent Li-CoO_(2)(LCO)cathodes to overcome the incomplete recovery and loss of lithium during the recycling process.The LCO layered structure was destroyed and lithium was completely converted into water-soluble Li2CO_(3)under a suitable temperature to control the reduced state of the cobalt oxide.The Co metal agglomerates generated during medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting were broken by wet grinding and ultrasonic crushing to release the entrained lithium.The results showed that 99.10%of the whole lithium could be recovered as Li2CO_(3)with a purity of 99.55%.This work provided a new perspective on the preferentially selective extraction of lithium from spent lithium batteries.

Boosting oxygen reduction activity and CO_(2) resistance on bismuth ferrite-based perovskite cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells below 600℃

Developing efficient and stable cathodes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells(LT-SOFCs) is of great importance for the practical commercialization.Herein,we propose a series of Sm-modified Bi_(0.7-x)Sm_xSr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ) perovskites as highly-active catalysts for LT-SOFCs.Sm doping can significantly enhance the electrocata lytic activity and chemical stability of cathode.At 600℃,Bi_(0.675)Sm_(0.025)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSSF25) cathode has been found to be the optimum composition with a polarization resistance of 0.098 Ω cm^2,which is only around 22.8% of Bi_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSF).A full cell utilizing BSSF25 displays an exceptional output density of 790 mW cm^(-2),which can operate continuously over100 h without obvious degradation.The remarkable electrochemical performance observed can be attributed to the improved O_(2) transport kinetics,superior surface oxygen adsorption capacity,as well as O_(2)p band centers in close proximity to the Fermi level.Moreover,larger average bonding energy(ABE) and the presence of highly acidic Bi,Sm,and Fe ions restrict the adsorption of CO_(2) on the cathode surface,resulting in excellent CO_(2) resistivity.This work provides valuable guidance for systematic design of efficient and durable catalysts for LT-SOFCs.

Advances in cathode materials for Li-O_(2)batteries

Lithium-oxygen(Li-O_(2))batteries have attracted significant attention due to their ultra-high theoretical energy density.However,serious challenges,such as potential lag,low-rate capability,round-trip efficiency,and poor cycle stability,greatly limit their practical application.This review provides a comprehensive account of the development of Li-O_(2)batteries,elucidates the current discharge/charge mechanism,and highlights both the advantages and bottlenecks of this technology.In particular,recent research progress on various cathode materials,such as carbon-based materials,noble metals,and non-noble metals,for Li-O_(2)batteries is deeply reviewed,emphasizing the impact of design strategies,material structures,chemical compositions,and microphysical parameters on oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)kinetics,as well as discharge products and overall battery performance.This review will also shed light on future research directions for oxygen electrode catalysts and material construction to facilitate the development of Li-O_(2)batteries with maximized electrochemical performance.

Active Cu and Fe Nanoparticles Codecorated Ruddlesden-Popper-Type Perovskite as Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells Cathode for CO_(2)Splitting

Solid oxide electrolysis cells(SOECs),displaying high current density and energy efficiency,have been proven to be an effective technique to electrochemically reduce CO_(2)into CO.However,the insufficiency of cathode activity and stability is a tricky problem to be addressed for SOECs.Hence,it is urgent to develop suitable cathode materials with excellent catalytic activity and stability for further practical application of SOECs.Herein,a reduced perovskite oxide,Pr_(0.35)Sr_(0.6)Fe_(0.7)Cu_(0.2)Mo_(0.1)O_(3-δ)(PSFCM0.35),is developed as SOECs cathode to electrolyze CO_(2).After reduction in 10%H_(2)/Ar,Cu and Fe nanoparticles are exsolved from the PSFCM0.35 lattice,resulting in a phase transformation from cubic perovskite to Ruddlesden-Popper(RP)perovskite with more oxygen vacancies.The exsolved metal nanoparticles are tightly attached to the perovskite substrate and afford more active sites to accelerate CO_(2)adsorption and dissociation on the cathode surface.The significantly strengthened CO_(2)adsorption capacity obtained after reduction is demonstrated by in situ Fourier transform-infrared(FT-IR)spectra.Symmetric cells with the reduced PSFCM0.35(R-PSFCM0.35)electrode exhibit a low polarization resistance of 0.43Ωcm^(2)at 850℃.Single electrolysis cells with the R-PSFCM0.35 cathode display an outstanding current density of 2947 mA cm^(-2)at 850℃and 1.6 V.In addition,the catalytic stability of the R-PSFCM0.35 cathode is also proved by operating at 800℃with an applied constant current density of 600 mA cm^(-2)for 100 h.

Enhancing Direct Electrochemical CO_(2)Electrolysis by Introducing A-Site Deficiency for the Dual-Phase Pr(Ca)Fe(Ni)O_(3-δ)Cathode

High-temperature CO_(2)electrolysis via solid oxide electrolysis cells(CO_(2)-SOECs)has drawn special attention due to the high energy convention efficiency,fast electrode kinetics,and great potential in carbon cycling.However,the development of cathode materials with high catalytic activity and chemical stability for pure CO_(2)electrolysis is still a great challenge.In this work,A-site cation deficient dual-phase material,namely(Pr_(0.4)Ca_(0.6))_(x)Fe_(0.8)Ni_(0.2)O_(3-δ)(PCFN,x=1,0.95,and 0.9),has been designed as the fuel electrode for a pure CO_(2)-SOEC,which presents superior electrochemical performance.Among all these compositions,(Pr_(0.4)Ca_(0.6))_(0.95)Fe_(0.8)Ni_(0.2)O_(3-δ)(PCFN95)exhibited the lowest polarization resistance of 0.458Ωcm^(2)at open-circuit voltage and 800℃.The application of PCFN95 as the cathode in a single cell yields an impressive electrolysis current density of 1.76 A cm^(-2)at 1.5 V and 800℃,which is 76%higher than that of single cells with stoichiometric Pr_(0.4)Ca_(0.6)Fe_(0.8)Ni_(0.2)O_(3-δ)(PCFN100)cathode.The effects of A-site deficiency on materials'phase structure and physicochemical properties are also systematically investigated.Such an enhancement in electrochemical performance is attributed to the promotion of effective CO_(2)adsorption,as well as the improved electrode kinetics resulting from the A-site deficiency.

γ-MnO2 nanorods/graphene composite as efficient cathode for advanced rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion battery

Aqueous Zn//MnO2 batteries are emerging as promising large-scale energy storage devices owing to their cost-effectiveness,high safety,high output voltage,and energy density.However,the MnO2 cathode suffers from intrinsically poor rate performance and rapid capacity deterioration.Here,we remove the roadblock by compositing MnO2 nanorods with highly conductive graphene,which remarkably enhances the electrochemical properties of the MnO2 cathode.Benefiting from the boosted electric conductivity and ion diffusion rate as well as the structural protection of graphene,the Zn//MnO2-graphene battery presents an admirable capacity of 301 mAh g^-1 at 0.5 A g^-1,corresponding to a high energy density of 411.6 Wh kg^-1.Even at a high current density of 10 A g^-1,a decent capacity of 95.8 mAh g^-1 is still obtained,manifesting its excellent rate property.Furthermore,an impressive power density of 15 kW kg^-1 is achieved by the Zn//MnO2-graphene battery.

Two-Dimensional Graphitic Carbon-Nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))-Coated LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) Cathodes for High-Energy-Density and Long-Life Lithium Batteries

High-capacity nickel-rich layered oxides are promising cathode materials for high-energy-density lithium batteries.However,the poor structural stability and severe side reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface result in unsatisfactory cycle performance.Herein,the thin layer of two-dimensional(2D)graphitic carbon-nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))is uniformly coated on the LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(denoted as NCM811@CN)using a facile chemical vaporization-assisted synthesis method.As an ideal protective layer,the g-C_(3)N_(4)layer effectively avoids direct contact between the NCM811 cathode and the electrolyte,preventing harmful side reactions and inhibiting secondary crystal cracking.Moreover,the unique nanopore structure and abundant nitrogen vacancy edges in g-C_(3)N_(4)facilitate the adsorption and diffusion of lithium ions,which enhances the lithium deintercalation/intercalation kinetics of the NCM811 cathode.As a result,the NCM811@CN-3wt%cathode exhibits 161.3 mAh g^(−1)and capacity retention of 84.6%at 0.5 C and 55°C after 400 cycles and 95.7 mAh g^(−1)at 10 C,which is greatly superior to the uncoated NCM811(i.e.129.3 mAh g^(−1)and capacity retention of 67.4%at 0.5 C and 55°C after 220 cycles and 28.8 mAh g^(−1)at 10 C).The improved cycle performance of the NCM811@CN-3wt%cathode is also applicable to solid–liquid-hybrid cells composed of PVDF:LLZTO electrolyte membranes,which show 163.8 mAh g^(−1)and the capacity retention of 88.1%at 0.1 C and 30°C after 200 cycles and 95.3 mAh g^(−1)at 1 C.

Is proton a charge carrier for δ-MnO_(2) cathode in aqueous rechargeable magnesium-ion batteries?

Manganese dioxide(MnO_(2)) is considered as a potential cathode material for aqueous magnesium-ion batteries. However, the charge/discharge mechanism of MnO_(2)in aqueous electrolyte is still unclear. In present study, highly porous δ-MnO_(2) is investigated, which delivers a high capacity of 252.1 m Ah g^(-1) at 0.05 A g^(-1) and excellent rate capability, i.e., 109.7 m Ah g^(-1) at 1 A g^(-1), but a low-capacity retention of 54.4% after 800 cycles at 1 A g^(-1). The two-step discharging process, namely a consequent H^(+) and Mg^(2+) insertion reaction, is verified, by comparing the electrochemical performance of δ-MnO_(2) in 1 M MgCl_(2) and 1 M MnCl_(2) aqueous electrolyte and analyzing detailedly the Mg content and the bonding state of Mn at different charge/discharge state. Furthermore, partial irreversibility of Mg^(-1) ion insertion/extraction is observed, which may be one of the major reasons leading to capacity decay.

Penetrative and migratory behavior of alkali metal in different binder based TiB_2-C composite cathodes

In electrolyte melts containing K at low temperature, the penetrative and migratory path of alkali metals （K and Na） in pitch, furan, phenolic aldehyde and epoxy based TiB2-C composite cathodes during the electrolysis process were studied by EDS and self-made modified Rapoport apparatus. The electrolysis expansion rates, the diffusion coefficients of the alkali metals and the corrosion rates of the composite cathode were also calculated and discussed. The results show that no matter what kind of binder is used, alkali metals have the same penetrative path in composite cathodes：firstly in pore, then in binder and finally in carbonaceous aggregates. K and Na penetrate into both binder and carbonaceous aggregates, which leads to the expansion of composite cathodes, and K has stronger penetration ability than Na. Electrolysis expansion rate of resin based composite cathode is smaller than that of pitch based composite cathodes, and so do the diffusion coefficient and corrosion rate. Resin based composite cathode has better resistance ability to the penetration of alkali metals than pith based composite cathode, and phenolic aldehyde based composite cathode exhibits the strongest resistance ability. The penetration rate, the diffusion coefficient of alkali metals in phenolic aldehyde based TiB2-C composite cathode and the corresponding corrosion rate are 4.72 mm/h, 2.24×10^-5 cm^2/s and 2.31 mm/a, respectively.

Influences of transition metal on structural and electrochemical properties of Li[Ni_xCo_yMn_z]O_2(0.6≤x≤0.8) cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Li[NixCoyMn2]O2（0.6≤x≤0.8） cathode materials with a typical hexagonal α-NaFeO2 structure were prepared utilizing a co-precipitation method.It is found that the ratio of peak intensities of（003） to（104） observed from X-ray diffraction（XRD）increases with decreasing the Ni content or increasing the Co content.The scanning electron microscopy（SEM） images reveal that the small primary particles are agglomerated to form the secondary ones.As the Mn content increases,the primary and secondary particles become larger and the resulted particle size for the Li[Ni（0.6）Co（0.2）Mn（0.2）]O2 is uniformly distributed in the range of100-300 nm.Although the initial discharge capacity of the Li/Li[NixCoyMn2]O2 cells reduces with decreasing the Ni content,the cyclic performance and rate capability are improved with higher Mn or Co content.The Li[Ni（0.6）Co（0.2）Mn（0.2）]O2 can deliver excellent cyclability with a capacity retention of 97.1%after 50 cycles.

Influence of pH value and chelating reagent on performance of Li_3V_2(PO_4)3/C cathode material

The Li3V2（PO4）3/C composite cathode material was synthesized via sol-gel method using three different chelating agents （citric acid, salicylic acid and polyacrylic acid） at pH value of 3 or 7. The crystal structure, morphology, specific surface area and electrochemical performance of the prepared samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, cyclic voltammetry （CV）, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） and galvanostatic charge/discharge test. The results show that the effects of pH value on the performance of the prepared materials are greatly related to the chelating agents. With salicylic acid or polyacrylic acid as the chelating reagent, the structure, morphology and electrochemical performance of the samples are greatly influenced by the pH values. However, the structure of the materials with citric acid as the chelating agent does not change as pH value changes, and the materials own uniform particle size distribution and good electrochemical performance. It delivers an initial discharge capacity of 113.58 mA·h/g at 10C, remaining as high as 108.48 mA·h/g after 900 cycles, with a capacity retention of 95.51%.

Effect of Mn-doping on performance of Li_3V_2(PO_4)_3/C cathode material for lithium ion batteries

Li3V2-2/3xMnx（PO4）3（0≤x≤0.12） powders were synthesized by sol-gel method. The effect of Mn2＋-doping on the structure and electrochemical performances of Li3V2（PO4）3/C was characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS, galvanostatic charge /discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy（EIS）. The XRD study shows that a small amount of Mn2＋-doped does not alter the structure of Li3V2（PO4）3/C materials, and all Mn2＋-doped samples are of pure single phase with a monoclinic structure （space group P21/n）. The XPS analysis indicates that valences state of V and Mn are ＋3 and ＋2 in Li3V1.94Mn0.09（PO4）3/C, respectively, and the citric acid in raw materials was decomposed into carbon during calcination, and residual carbon exists in Li3V1.94Mn0.09（PO4）/C. The results of electrochemical measurements show that Mn2＋-doping can improve the cyclic stability and rate performance of these cathode materials. The Li3V1.94Mn0.09（PO4）3/C cathode material shows the best cyclic stability and rate performance. For example, at the discharge current density of 40 mA/g, after 100 cycles, the discharge capacity of Li3V1.94Mn0.09（PO4）3/C declines from initial 158.8 mA·h/g to 120.5 mA·h/g with a capacity retention of 75.9%; however, that of the Mn-undoed sample declines from 164.2 mA·h/g to 72.6 mA·h/g with a capacity retention of 44.2%. When the discharge current is increased up to 1C, the intial discharge capacity of Li3V1.94Mn0.09（PO4）3/C still reaches 146.4 mA·h/g, and the discharge capacity maintains at 107.5 mA·h/g after 100 cycles. The EIS measurement indicates that Mn2＋-doping with a appropriate amount of Mn2＋ decreases the charge transfer resistance, which is favorable for the insertion/extraction of Li＋.

Synthesis of nanostructured Li_2FeSiO_4/C cathode for lithium-ion battery by solution method

Nanosphere-like Li2FeSiO4/C was synthesized via a solution method using sucrose as carbon sources under a mild condition of time-saving and energy-saving, followed by sintering at high temperatures for crystallization. The amount of carbon in the composite is less than 10% （mass fraction）, and the X-ray diffraction result confirms that the sample is of pure single phase indexed with the orthorhombic Pmn21 space group. The particle size of the Li2FeSiO4/C synthesized at 700 °C for 9 h is very fine and spherical-like with a size of 200 nm. The electrochemical performance of this material, including reversible capacity, cycle number, and charge-discharge characteristics, were tested. The cell of this sample can deliver a discharge capacity of 166 mA-h/g at C/20 rate in the first three cycles. After 30 cycles, the capacity decreases to 158 mA-h/g, and the capacity retention is up to 95%. The results show that this method can prepare nanosphere-like Li2FeSiO4/C composite with good electrochemical performance.

水系铵离子电池β-MnO_(2)正极材料的制备及性能研究

通过简单的水热法合成了隧道型β-MnO_(2)正极材料并应用于水系铵离子电池,并采用1 mol/L(NH4)2SO4水系电解液,在窗口电压为0~1.6 V范围内,测试其电化学性能。实验结果表明:β-MnO_(2)正极材料在0.1A/g电流密度下表现出109.8 mAh/g放电比容量,经过140次循环后,其放电比容量仍有101.9 mAh/g,容量保留率为92.8%,库伦效率接近100%,具有优异的循环稳定性能。同时还具有优异的倍率性能,β-MnO_(2)纳米棒正极材料即使在1.0 A/g大电流密度下仍有78.7 mAh/g。此外,通过非原位FTIR、XPS测试探索了其储铵机理,结果表明铵根离子具有良好的可逆性。

Difficulties, strategies, and recent research and development of layered sodium transition metal oxide cathode materials for high-energy sodium-ion batteries

Energy-storage systems and their production have attracted significant interest for practical applications.Batteries are the foundation of sustainable energy sources for electric vehicles(EVs),portable electronic devices(PEDs),etc.In recent decades,Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) have been extensively utilized in largescale energy storage devices owing to their long cycle life and high energy density.However,the high cost and limited availability of Li are the two main obstacles for LIBs.In this regard,sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) are attractive alternatives to LIBs for large-scale energy storage systems because of the abundance and low cost of sodium materials.Cathode is one of the most important components in the battery,which limits cost and performance of a battery.Among the classified cathode structures,layered structure materials have attracted attention because of their high ionic conductivity,fast diffusion rate,and high specific capacity.Here,we present a comprehensive review of the classification of layered structures and the preparation of layered materials.Furthermore,the review article discusses extensively about the issues of the layered materials,namely(1) electrochemical degradation,(2) irreversible structural changes,and(3) structural instability,and also it provides strategies to overcome the issues such as elemental phase composition,a small amount of elemental doping,structural design,and surface alteration for emerging SIBs.In addition,the article discusses about the recent research development on layered unary,binary,ternary,quaternary,quinary,and senary-based O3-and P2-type cathode materials for high-energy SIBs.This review article provides useful information for the development of high-energy layered sodium transition metal oxide P2 and O3-cathode materials for practical SIBs.

Low-S train and High-Energy KVPO_(4)F Cathode with Multifunctional Stabilizer for Advanced Potassium-Ion Batteries

KVPO_(4)F with excellent structural stability and high operating voltage has been identified as a promising cathode for potassium-ion batteries(PIBs),but limits in sluggish ion transport and severe volume change cause insufficient potassium storage capability.Here,a high-energy and low-strain KVPO_(4)F composite cathode assisted by multifunctional K_(2)C_(4)O_(4)electrode stabilizer is exquisitely designed.Systematical electrochemical investigations demonstrate that this composite cathode can deliver a remarkable energy density up to 530 Wh kg^(-1)with 142.7 mAh g^(-1)of reversible capacity at 25 mA g^(-1),outstanding rate capability of 70.6 mAh g^(-1)at 1000 mA g^(-1),and decent cycling stability.Furthermore,slight volume change(~5%)and increased interfacial stability with thin and even cathode-electrolyte interphase can be observed through in situ and ex situ characterizations,which are attributed to the synergistic effect from in situ potassium compensation and carbon deposition through self-sacrificing K_(2)C_(4)O_(4)additive.Moreover,potassium-ion full cells manifest significant improvement in energy density and cycling stability.This work demonstrates a positive impact of K_(2)C_(4)O_(4)additive on the comprehensive electrochemical enhancement,especially the activation of high-voltage plateau capacity and provides an efficient strategy to enlighten the design of other high-voltage cathodes for advanced high-energy batteries.

Rare Earth Elements-Doped LiCoO_2 Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Some compounds of LiCo 1- x RE x O 2 (RE=rare earth elements and x =0.01～0.03) were prepared by doping rare earth elements to LiCoO 2 via solid state synthesis. The microstructure characteristics of the LiCo 1- x RE x O 2 were investigated by XRD. It was found that the lattice parameters c are increased and the lattice volumes are enlarged compared to that of LiCoO 2. Moreover, the performance of LiCo 1- x RE x O 2 as the cathode material in lithium ion battery is improved, especially LiCo 1- x Y x O 2 and LiCo 1- x La x O 2. The initial charge/discharge capacities of LiCo 0.99 Y 0.01 O 2 and LiCo 0.99 La 0.01 O 2 are 174/154 (mAh·g -1 ) and 159/149 (mAh·g -1 ) respectively, while those for LiCoO 2 working in the same way are only 139/131 (mAh·g -1 ).

Microwave synthesis of Li_2FeSiO_4 cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

A novel synthetic method of microwave processing to prepare Li2FeSiO4 cathode materials is adopted. The Li2FeSiO4 cathode material is prepared by mechanical ball-milling and subsequent microwave processing. Olivin-type Li2FeSiO4 sample with uniform and fine particle sizes is successfully and fast synthesized by microwave heating at 700 ℃ in 12 rain. And the obtained Li2FeSiO4 materials show better electrochemical performance and microstructure than those of Li2FeSiO4 sample by the conventional solidstate reaction. ？2009 Yan Bing Cao. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Enhanced Performance of a Monolayer MoS_2/WSe_2 Heterojunction as a Photoelectrochemical Cathode

Transition-metal dichalcogenide(TMD) semiconductors have attracted interest as photoelectrochemical(PEC) electrodes due to their novel band-gap structures,optoelectronic properties, and photocatalytic activities.However, the photo-harvesting efficiency still requires improvement. In this study, A TMD stacked heterojunction structure was adopted to further enhance the performance of the PEC cathode. A P-type WSe_2 and an N-type Mo S_2 monolayer were stacked layer-by-layer to build a ultrathin vertical heterojunction using a micro-fabrication method.In situ measurement was employed to characterize the intrinsic PEC performance on a single-sheet heterostructure.Benefitting from its built-in electric field and type II band alignment, the MoS_2/WSe_2 bilayer heterojunction exhibited exceptional photocatalytic activity and a high incident photo-to-current conversion efficiency(IPCE). Comparing with the monolayer WSe_2 cathode, the PEC current and the IPCE of the bilayer heterojunction increased by a factor of 5.6 and enhanced 50%, respectively. The intriguing performance renders the MoS_2/WSe_2 heterojunction attractive for application in high-performance PEC water splitting.