Rhodium Nanoparticle-Loaded Carbon Black Electrocatalyst for the Glycerol Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Medium

Rhodium nanoparticle-loaded carbon black (Rh/CB) was prepared by a wet method, and its activity and durability for glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) in alkaline medium were compared with Pt, Pd and Au nanoparticle-loaded CB (Pt/CB, Pd/CB and Au/CB). In the cyclic voltammogram of the Rh/CB electrode, the redox waves due to hydrogen adsorption/desorption and the surface OH monolayer formation/reduction were observed at more negative potentials than the Pt/CB and Pd/CB electrodes. The onset and peak potentials of the GOR current densities for the Rh/CB electrode were ca. –0.55 and –0.30 V vs. Hg/HgO, respectively, which were 0.10 and 0.20 V more negative than the Pt/CB electrode whose GOR activity was the best, indicating that Rh was a fascinating metal for reducing the overpotential for GOR. In the electrostatic electrolysis with the Rh/CB and Pt/CB electrodes, the decrease in the GOR current density in the former with time was suppressed compared to that in the latter, suggesting that the tolerance to poisoning for the Rh/CB electrode was superior to that for the Pt/CB electrode.

PtAg Nanoparticle Electrocatalysts for the Glycerol Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Medium

To improve the activity for glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) of Pt, PtAg (mole ratio of Pt/Ag = 3 and 1) alloy nanoparticle-loaded carbon black (Pt/CB, PtAg(3:1)/CB, PtAg(1:1)/CB) catalysts were prepared by a wet method. The resultant catalysts, moreover, were heat-treated in a N2 atmosphere at 200°C. The alloying of Pt with Ag for each PtAg/CB was confirmed by X-ray diffractometry and electron dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The heat-treatment did not change the crystal structure of the PtAg alloys and increased their particle size. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy exhibited that stabilizers were completely removed from the PtAg alloy surface, and the Pt4f and Ag3d doublets due to metallic Pt and Ag, respectively, shifted to lower binding energies, supporting the alloying of Pt with Ag. Both PtAg/CB electrodes had two oxidation waves of glycerol irrespective of heat-treatment, which was different from the Pt/CB electrode. The onset potential of the first oxidation wave was -0.60 V, which was 0.20 V less positive than that for the Pt/CB electrode, indicating the alloying of Pt with Ag greatly improved the GOR activity of Pt. The heat-treated PtAg(3:1)/ CB electrode improved the GOR current density of the second oxidation peak. In the potentiostatic electrolysis at -0.1 and 0 V for both PtAg/CB electrodes, the ratio of oxidation current density at 60 min to that at 5 min (j60/j5), an indicator of the catalyst deterioration, at 0 V was higher than that at -0.1 V, because the adsorbed oxidation intermediates were greatly consumed at the larger overpotential. The heat-treatment of the PtAg(3:1)/CB electrode increased the j60/j5 value at -0.1 V but decreased that at 0 V. This could be attributed to the formation of high-order oxidation intermediates which might have stronger poisoning effect.

Vertical 3D Nanostructures Boost Efficient Hydrogen Production Coupled with Glycerol Oxidation Under Alkaline Conditions

Hydrogen production from electrolytic water is an important sustainable technology to realize renewable energy conversion and carbon neutrality.However,it is limited by the high overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)at the anode.To reduce the operating voltage of electrolyzer,herein thermodynamically favorable glycerol oxidation reaction(GOR)is proposed to replace the OER.Moreover,vertical Ni O flakes and NiMoNH nanopillars are developed to boost the reaction kinetics of anodic GOR and cathodic hydrogen evolution,respectively.Meanwhile,excluding the explosion risk of mixed H_2/O_(2),a cheap organic membrane is used to replace the expensive anion exchange membrane in the electrolyzer.Impressively,the electrolyzer delivers a remarkable reduction of operation voltage by 280 mV,and exhibits good long-term stability.This work provides a new paradigm of hydrogen production with low cost and good feasibility.

Optimized Electronic Modification of S-Doped CuO Induced by Oxidative Reconstruction for Coupling Glycerol Electrooxidation with Hydrogen Evolution

Glycerol(electrochemical) oxidation reaction(GOR) producing organic small molecule acid and coupling with hydrogen evolution reaction is a critical aspect of ensuring balanced glycerol capacity and promoting hydrogen generation on a large scale. However, the development of highly efficient and selective non-noble metal-based GOR electrocatalysts is still a key problem. Here, an S-doped CuO nanorod array catalyst(S-CuO/CF) constructed by sulfur leaching and oxidative remodeling is used to drive GOR at low potentials: It requires potentials of only 1.23 and 1.33 V versus RHE to provide currents of 100 and 500 mA cm^(-2), respectively. Moreover, it shows satisfactory comprehensive performance(at 100 mA cm^(-2), V_(cell) = 1.37 V) when assembled as the anode in asymmetric coupled electrolytic cell. Furthermore, we propose a detailed cycle reaction pathway(in alkaline environment) of S-doped CuO surface promoting GOR to produce formic acid and glycolic acid. Among them, the C–C bond breaking and lattice oxygen deintercalation steps frequently involved in the reaction pathway are the key factors to determine the catalytic performance and product selectivity. This research provides valuable guidance for the development of transition metal-based electrocatalysts for GOR and valuable insights into the glycerol oxidation cycle reaction pathway.

High-entropy selenides: A new platform for highly selective oxidation of glycerol to formate and energy-saving hydrogen evolution in alkali-acid hybrid electrolytic cell

Glycerol oxidation reaction(GOR)coupled with hydrogen generation simultaneously is a promising strategy for developing sustainable energy conversion technologies,but the complexity of glycerol oxidation products and the high coupling hydrogen evolution potential limit its wide application.In this paper,a self-supported high-entropy selenide electrode can be fabricated via a simple hydrothermal process.Then,the prepared electrode as an advanced catalyst displays optimal catalytic activity(1.20 V at 10 mA·cm^(−2))and high selectivity for the formation of formate in GOR.The results show that the lattice distortion effect of high entropy materials composed of multiple elements is mainly responsible for the greatly improved catalytic activity and selectivity for GOR.Moreover,an advanced alkali-acid hybrid electrolytic cell was assembled that enables efficient energy-saving hydrogen generation and GOR simultaneously.Herein,the electrolyzer requires only 0.5 V applied voltage to reach 10 mA·cm^(−2) for hydrogen generation and maintains long-term operation stability.

Regulating Ni site in NiV LDH for efficient electrocatalytic production of formate and hydrogen by glycerol electrolysis

Energy-saving glycerol electrolysis with lower potential than water spitting endows a promising way for the concurrent production of value-added formate and high-purity hydrogen. However, there is still lack of efficient electrocatalysts at both anode and cathode for glycerol electrolysis. Herein, we report the activation of Ni site in NiV layered double hydroxide(LDH) by electrochemical and N_(2)/H_(2) plasma regulations for boosting the activity of glycerol oxidation reaction(GOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER), respectively. Specifically, boosted GOR performance with a low overpotential(1.23 V at 10 mA·cm^(-2)) and a high Faradic efficiency(94%) is demonstrated by electrochemically regulated NiV LDH(ENiV LDH) with elevated valence state of Ni site. In situ Raman spectrum reveals the generation of Ni(Ⅲ) species by electrochemical regulation, and the highly active Ni(Ⅲ)can be regenerated with the process of electrochemical oxidation. Additionally, the possible reaction pathway is speculated based on the in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography results. The plasma-regulated NiV LDH(PNiV LDH) with lower valence state of Ni site exhibits outstanding HER activity, displaying a low overpotential of 45 m V to deliver 10 mA·cm^(-2).When employing E-NiV LDH and P-NiV LDH as anode and cathode electrocatalyst, respectively, the assembled electrolyzer merely needs 1.25 V to achieve 10 m A·cm^(-2) for simultaneous production of formate and hydrogen, demonstrating remarkable 320 mV of lower potential than water electrolysis.