NiCo 2 O 4 @NiMoO 4 Supported on Nickel Foam for Electrocatalytic Water Splitting

Carbon-encapsulated Co2P/P-modified NiMoO4 hierarchical heterojunction as superior pH-universal electrocatalyst for hydrogen production

The development of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) technology that operates stably in a wide potential of hydrogen (pH) range of electrolytes is particular important for large-scale hydrogen production. However, the rational design of low-cost and pH-universal electrocatalyst with high catalytic performance remains a huge challenge. Herein, Co₂P nanoparticles strongly coupled with P-modified NiMoO₄ nanorods are directly grown on nickel foam (NF) substrates through carbon layer encapsulation (denoted as C-Co₂P@P-NiMoO₄/NF) by hydrothermal, deposition, and phosphating processes. This novel kind of hierarchical heterojunction has abundant heterogeneous interfaces, strong electronic interactions, and optimized reaction kinetics, representing the highly-active pH-universal electrodes for HER. Remarkably, the C-Co₂P@P-NiMoO₄/NF catalyst shows excellent HER properties in acidic and basic electrolytes, where the overpotentials of 105 mV and 107 mV are applied to drive the current density of 100 mA cm^-2. In addition, a low overpotential of 177 mV at 100 mA cm^-2 along with high stability is realized in 1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS), which is close to the state-of-the-art non-precious metal electrocatalysts. Our work not only provides a class of robust pH-universal electrocatalyst but also offers a novel way for the rational design of other heterogeneous materials bythe interface regulation strategy.

Surface Modulation of 3D Porous CoNiP Nanoarrays In Situ Grown on Nickel Foams for Robust Overall Water Splitting

The careful design of nanostructures and multi-compositions of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (HER and OER) is of great significance to realize sustainable hydrogen release. Herein, bifunctional electrocatalysts of the three-dimensional (3D) cobalt-nickel phosphide nanoarray in situ grown on nickel foams (CoNiP NA/NF) were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method followed by phosphorization. Due to the unique self-template nanoarray structure and tunable multicomponent system, the CoNiP NA/NF samples present exceptional activity and durability for HER and OER. The optimized sample of CoNiP NA/NF-2 afforded a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at a low overpotential of 162 mV for HER and 499 mV for OER, corresponding with low Tafel slopes of 114.3 and 79.5 mV dec⁻¹, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that modulation active sites with appropriate electronic properties facilitate the interaction between the catalyst surface and intermediates, especially for the adsorption of absorbed H* and *OOH intermediates, resulting in an optimized energy barrier for HER and OER. The 3D nanoarray structure, with a large specific surface area and abundant ion channels, can enrich the electroactive sites and enhance mass transmission. This work provides novel strategies and insights for the design of robust non-precious metal catalysts.

Plasma-assisted defect engineering of N-doped NiCo2O4 for efficient oxygen reduction

Defect control is a promising way to enhance the electrocatalysis performance of metal oxides. Oxygen vacancy enriched NiCo₂O₄ was successfully prepared using cold plasma. Oxygen as a plasma-forming gas introduces oxygen vacancies via electron etching. The concentration of oxygen vacancies can be controlled by different plasma-forming gas. CoO, which formed on the plasma samples, is beneficial for quick charge transfer and electrocatalytic performance. A high amount of nitrogen atoms of up to 10.1% was doped on NiCo₂O₄ because of the enriched oxygen vacancies and improved the stability of the oxygen defects and the conductivity of the catalyst. Electrocatalytic studies showed that the plasma-induced N-doped NiCo₂O₄ shows enhanced electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It shows a typical four-electron process that considerably improves the current density and onset potential. The HO₂^- % was as low as 0.59% and current density was 4.9 mA cm^-2 at 0.2 V (Vs. RHE) on the plasma-treated NiCo₂O₄. Calculations based on density functional theory reveal the mechanism for the promotion of the catalytic ORR activity via plasma treatment. This increases the electron density near the Fermi level, reducing the work function, and changing the position of the d-band center.

Controllable synthesis of Cu-Ni-M (M = S, P and Se) hybrid nanoarrays for efficient water splitting reaction

Electrochemical water splitting has become one of the state of the art approaches to generate hydrogen. It is important to exploit relatively low toxicity, low cost and environmentally friendly water splitting electrocatalysts. A series of Cu-Ni-M (M = S, P and Se) materials were firstly in situ grown on Ni foam and these materials showed excellent water splitting activity. The Cu-Ni-S material shows excellent oxygen evolution reaction performance (200 mV@20 mA cm-2) and the Cu-Ni-P sample shows an effective hydrogen evolution reaction performance (52 mV@10 mA cm-2). When the Cu-Ni-S and Cu-Ni-P materials were assembled into a two-electrode system, the Cu-Ni-S/NF//Cu-Ni-P/NF electrode pairs display superior water splitting activity (1.50 V@20 mA cm-2), which is one of the best electrocatalytic activities reported so far. The experimental analysis demonstrates that the excellent performance of the Cu-Ni-S/NF and Cu-Ni-P/NF materials is attributed to the rapid electron transfer rate, increased electrocatalytically active area, more exposure to active sites and the superior synergistic catalytic factor of Ni2+ and Cu2+. It was found that amorphous oxides were in situ generated on the outside surface of the catalyst through the analysis of the catalyst after the reaction, and they were the real electrocatalytically active centers. Density functional theory demonstrates that the in situ generated Cu-doped NiOOH shows the optimal water adsorption energy compared with NiOOH. This work offers novel views for the design of relatively low toxicity, stable and inexpensive water splitting electrocatalysts.

A simple sonochemical assisted synthesis of NiMoO4/chitosan nanocomposite for electrochemical sensing of amlodipine in pharmaceutical and serum samples

In this investigation, a facile sonochemical route has been developed for the preparation of porous nickel molybdate nanosheets/chitosan nanocomposite (NiMoO₄/CHIT) by using ammonium molybdate and nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate and as nickel and molybdate precursor, respectively (ultrasonic power 60 W/cm² and frequency 20 kHz). The ultrasonic based materials preparation as a fast, convenient and economical approach has been widely used to generate novel nanomaterials. Herein, we report an efficient voltammetric sensor for amlodipine drug by using porous nickel molybdate nanosheets/chitosan nanocomposite (NiMoO₄/CHIT). Its structure and properties were characterized by x-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, elemental analysis and mapping. The electrochemical studies are indicated the NiMoO₄/CHIT modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibited the good performance towards electrocatalytic sensing of amlodipine drug. Consequently, a linear correlation between the anodic peak current with sensor concentration 0.025-373.6 µM with a detection limit and sensitivity of 4.62 nM and 4.753 µA·µM^-1·cm^-2, respectively. A voltammetry based drug analysis was found to be high sensitive and reproducible, which able to detect nanomolar concentration. Furthermore, the fabricated electrochemical sensor was applied in drug and biological samples.

Synthesis of Co2-xNixO2 (0 < x < 1.0) hexagonal nanostructures as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Designing low-cost and high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is vitally important for water splitting. Herein, we synthesize Co2-xNixO2 (0 < x < 1.0) hexagonal nanosheets with different Co/Ni molar ratios via a facile coprecipitation process followed by calcination under an Ar atmosphere. Changing the Co/Ni molar ratios of the Co2-xNixO2 products is found to have a momentous influence on the microstructures, specific surface areas and electrocatalytic performances. At a Co/Ni molar ratio of 0.6, the Co1.4Ni0.6O2 nanosheet exhibits the largest specific surface area of 60.63 m2 g-1, the best OER with an onset overpotential of 278.5 mV, and HER of 72.8 mV as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. Meanwhile, the minimum Tafel slope is 113.6 mV dec-1 for OER and 77.4 mV dec-1 for HER. The Co1.4Ni0.6O2 nanosheet has excellent OER and HER activity at 0.1 mg cm-2 trace loading. Moreover, we construct an overall water splitting cell using the Co1.4Ni0.6O2 bifunctional electrocatalyst in a two-electrode system to further demonstrate the practical application, which needs a cell voltage of 1.75 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and exhibits great long-term stability. These results provide an efficient strategy for the rational design of Co-based oxides towards bifunctional overall water electrocatalysts.

Controlled Synthesis of Cr-Co0.85 Se Nanoarrays for Water Splitting at an Ultralow Cell Voltage of 1.43 V

Water splitting has attracted more and more attention as a promising strategy for the production of clean hydrogen fuel. In this work, a new synthesis strategy was proposed, and Co_0.85 Se was synthesized on nickel foam as the main matrix. The doping of appropriate Cr amount into the target of Co_0.85 Se and the Cr-Co_0.85 Se resulted in an excellent electrochemical performance. The doping of Cr introduces Cr³⁺ ions which substitute Co²⁺ and Co³⁺ ions in Co_0.85 Se, so that the lattice parameters of the main matrix were changed. It is worth noting that the Cr0.15-Co_0.85 Se/NF material exhibits an excellent performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) test. When the current density reaches 50 mA cm^-2 for OER, the overpotential is only 240 mV. For the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) tests, the overpotential is only 117 mV to drive 10 mA cm^-2 of current density. Moreover, when the Cr0.15-Co_0.85 Se/NF material is used as a two-electrode device for whole water splitting, the required cell voltage is only 1.43 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 , which is among the lowest values of the published catalysts up to now. In addition, the Cr0.15-Co_0.85 Se/NF catalyst also exhibits excellent stability during a long period of water splitting. The experimental result demonstrates that the change of the lattice structure has an obvious influence on the electrocatalytic activity of the material. When an external electric field is applied, it facilitates the rapid electron transfer rate and enhances the electrocatalytic performance and stability of the material.

A nickel molybdenum oxide nanoarray as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

Experimental and DFT calculation results show that the presence of oxygen vacancies can decrease the adsorption energy of intermediates at active sites and facilitate their adsorption, thus improving the catalytic properties.

Electrochemical water splitting exploration of MnCo2O4, NiCo2O4 cobaltites

One-step solvothermal synthesis is used to produce Mn and Ni based cobaltites.

Oxygen vacancies confined in nickel oxide nanoprism arrays for promoted electrocatalytic water splitting

Experimental and DFT calculation results show that the presence of oxygen vacancies can decrease the adsorption energy of intermediates at active sites and facilitate the adsorption of intermediates, thus improving the catalytic properties.

Controlled Synthesis of CuCo2 S4 @Ni(OH)2 Hybrid Nanorod Arrays for Water Splitting at an Ultralow Cell Voltage of 1.47 V

Developing environmentally friendly and highly active water splitting catalysts would be of great significance for clean energy conversion and utilization processes. Heterogeneous CuCo₂ S₄ @Ni(OH)₂ nanorod arrays with abundant oxygen vacancy firstly have been designed through a controllable hydrothermal and electrodeposition method. The synergies and open structures of the particular hierarchical structure together with the abundant oxygen vacancies offer more surface reactive centers, which can promote the electron transfer rate and reduce the activation energy of intermediate species. The CuCo₂ S₄ @Ni(OH)₂ -20 min nanorod arrays are considered as an excellent and robust electrocatalyst for the proton reduction under an alkaline condition with an extraordinary low overpotential of 117 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 . The CuCo₂ S₄ @Ni(OH)₂ -20 min heterostructures electrode is also stable and robust for the water oxidation reaction, needing an overpotential of only 250 mV to obtain 100 mA cm^-2 . Therefore, an alkaline electrolyzer was designed using CuCo₂ S₄ @Ni(OH)₂ -20 min nanorod arrays as bifunctional electrocatalyst, which can complete overall water splitting at a cell voltage of 1.47 V with 10 mA cm^-2 , suggesting a promising combination of the same material for efficient overall water splitting device. The cell voltage of 1.47 V, to our knowledge, is among the lowest values of the published support catalysts for electrocatalytic water splitting up to now.