Microbial electrolysis cells(MECs)present an attractive route for energy-saving hydrogen(H2)production along with treatment of various wastewaters,which can convert organic matter into H2 with the assistance of microb...Microbial electrolysis cells(MECs)present an attractive route for energy-saving hydrogen(H2)production along with treatment of various wastewaters,which can convert organic matter into H2 with the assistance of microbial electrocatalysis.However,the development of such renewable technologies for H2 production still faces considerable challenges regarding how to enhance the H2 production rate and to lower the energy and the system cost.In this review,we will focus on the recent research progress of MEC for H2 production.First,we present a brief introduction of MEC technology and the operating mechanism for H2 production.Then,the electrode materials including some typical electrocatalysts for hydrogen production are summarized and discussed.We also highlight how various substrates used in MEC affect the associated performance of hydrogen generation.Finally we presents several key scientific challenges and our perspectives on how to enhance the electrochemical performance.展开更多
Photoelectorchemical（PEC） water splitting is an attractive approach for producing sustainable and environment-friendly hydrogen. An efficient PEC process is rooted in appropriate semiconductor materials, which shoul...Photoelectorchemical（PEC） water splitting is an attractive approach for producing sustainable and environment-friendly hydrogen. An efficient PEC process is rooted in appropriate semiconductor materials, which should possess small bandgap to ensure wide light harvest, facile charge separation to allow the generated photocharges migrating to the reactive sites and highly catalytic capability to fully utilize the separated photocharges. Proper electrode fabrication method is of equal importance for promoting charge transfer and accelerating surface reactions in the electrodes. Moreover,powerful characterization method can shed light on the complex PEC process and provide deep understanding of the rate-determining step for us to improve the PEC systems further. Targeting on high solar conversion efficiency, here we provide a review on the development of PEC water splitting in the aspect of materials exploring, fabrication method and characterization. It is expected to provide some fundamental insight of PEC and inspire the design of more effective PEC systems.展开更多
Exploring efficient and cost-effective electro- catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction （OER） is critical to water splitting. While nickel-iron layered double hydroxide （NiFe LDH） has been long recognized as a pro...Exploring efficient and cost-effective electro- catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction （OER） is critical to water splitting. While nickel-iron layered double hydroxide （NiFe LDH） has been long recognized as a promising non- precious electrocatalyst for OER, its intrinsic activity needs further improvement. Herein, we design a highly-efficient oxygen evolution electrode based on defective NiFe LDH na- noarray. By combing the merits of the modulated electronic structure, more exposed active sites, and the conductive elec- trode, the defective NiFe LDH electrocatalysts show a low onset potential of 1.40 V （vs. RHE）. An overpotential of only 200 mV is required for 10 mA cm-2, which is 48 mV lower than that of pristine NiFe-LDH. Density functional theory plus U （DFT＋U） calculations are further employed for the origin of this OER activity enhancement. We find the introduction of oxygen vacancies leads to a lower valance state of Fe and the narrowed bandgap, which means the electrons tend to be ea- sily excited into the conduction band, resulting in the lowered reaction overpotential and enhanced OER performance.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21566025 and No.21875253)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province(No.20152ACB21019 and No.20162BCB23044)。
文摘Microbial electrolysis cells(MECs)present an attractive route for energy-saving hydrogen(H2)production along with treatment of various wastewaters,which can convert organic matter into H2 with the assistance of microbial electrocatalysis.However,the development of such renewable technologies for H2 production still faces considerable challenges regarding how to enhance the H2 production rate and to lower the energy and the system cost.In this review,we will focus on the recent research progress of MEC for H2 production.First,we present a brief introduction of MEC technology and the operating mechanism for H2 production.Then,the electrode materials including some typical electrocatalysts for hydrogen production are summarized and discussed.We also highlight how various substrates used in MEC affect the associated performance of hydrogen generation.Finally we presents several key scientific challenges and our perspectives on how to enhance the electrochemical performance.
基金supported by the Australian Research Council through its Discovery Project (DP)Federation Fellowship (FF) Program
文摘Photoelectorchemical（PEC） water splitting is an attractive approach for producing sustainable and environment-friendly hydrogen. An efficient PEC process is rooted in appropriate semiconductor materials, which should possess small bandgap to ensure wide light harvest, facile charge separation to allow the generated photocharges migrating to the reactive sites and highly catalytic capability to fully utilize the separated photocharges. Proper electrode fabrication method is of equal importance for promoting charge transfer and accelerating surface reactions in the electrodes. Moreover,powerful characterization method can shed light on the complex PEC process and provide deep understanding of the rate-determining step for us to improve the PEC systems further. Targeting on high solar conversion efficiency, here we provide a review on the development of PEC water splitting in the aspect of materials exploring, fabrication method and characterization. It is expected to provide some fundamental insight of PEC and inspire the design of more effective PEC systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,National Key Research and Development Project (2016YFC0801302, 2016YFF0204402)the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in the University+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe longterm subsidy mechanism from the Ministry of Financethe Ministry of Education of China
文摘Exploring efficient and cost-effective electro- catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction （OER） is critical to water splitting. While nickel-iron layered double hydroxide （NiFe LDH） has been long recognized as a promising non- precious electrocatalyst for OER, its intrinsic activity needs further improvement. Herein, we design a highly-efficient oxygen evolution electrode based on defective NiFe LDH na- noarray. By combing the merits of the modulated electronic structure, more exposed active sites, and the conductive elec- trode, the defective NiFe LDH electrocatalysts show a low onset potential of 1.40 V （vs. RHE）. An overpotential of only 200 mV is required for 10 mA cm-2, which is 48 mV lower than that of pristine NiFe-LDH. Density functional theory plus U （DFT＋U） calculations are further employed for the origin of this OER activity enhancement. We find the introduction of oxygen vacancies leads to a lower valance state of Fe and the narrowed bandgap, which means the electrons tend to be ea- sily excited into the conduction band, resulting in the lowered reaction overpotential and enhanced OER performance.
