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Yan B, Gu Q, Cao W, Cai B, Li Y, Zeng Z, Liu P, Ke Z, Meng S, Ouyang G, Yang G. Laser direct overall water splitting for H 2 and H 2O 2 production. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319286121. [PMID: 38394244 PMCID: PMC10907277 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319286121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) play crucial roles as energy carriers and raw materials for industrial production. However, the current techniques for H2 and H2O2 production rely on complex catalysts and involve multiple intermediate steps. In this study, we present a straightforward, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient laser-induced conversion method for overall water splitting to simultaneously generate H2 and H2O2 at ambient conditions without any catalysts. The laser direct overall water splitting approach achieves an impressive light-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 2.1%, with H2 production rates of 2.2 mmol/h and H2O2 production rates of 65 µM/h in a limited reaction area (1 mm2) within a short real reaction time (0.36 ms/h). Furthermore, we elucidate the underlying physics and chemistry behind the laser-induced water splitting to produce H2 and H2O2. The laser-induced cavitation bubbles create an optimal microenvironment for water-splitting reactions because of the transient high temperatures (104 K) surpassing the chemical barrier required. Additionally, their rapid cooling rate (1010 K/s) hinders reverse reactions and facilitates H2O2 retention. Finally, upon bubble collapse, H2 is released while H2O2 remains dissolved in the water. Moreover, a preliminary amplification experiment demonstrates the potential industrial applications of this laser chemistry. These findings highlight that laser-based production of H2 and H2O2 from water holds promise as a straightforward, environmentally friendly, and efficient approach on an industrial scale beyond conventional chemical catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qunfang Gu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Biao Cai
- Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Matter Microstructure and Function of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha410081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yinwu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiping Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhuofeng Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sheng Meng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gang Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Matter Microstructure and Function of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha410081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guowei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou510275, People’s Republic of China
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Chen Q, Yuan YF, Yin SM, Zhu M, Cai GS. Pomegranate-like C@TiO 2 mesoporous honeycomb spheres for high performance lithium ion batteries. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 31:435410. [PMID: 32629434 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aba302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Pomegranate-like C@TiO2 mesoporous honeycomb spheres have been synthesized through two simple steps: formation of TiO2 mesoporous honeycomb spheres and the coating of polypyrrole followed by carbonization. TiO2 mesoporous honeycomb spheres are of large specific surface area of 153 m2 g-1 and contain abundant mesopores, which leads to high electrochemical activity and good kinetic performance of TiO2. A layer of amorphous carbon shell with the thickness of 30-40 nm tightly encapsulates a TiO2 mesoporous honeycomb sphere, forming a novel pomegranate-like small sphere, which significantly improves electronic conductivity and structural stability of TiO2. Benefiting from the unique pomegranate-like structure, C@TiO2 mesoporous honeycomb spheres exhibit high specific capacity, stable long-term cycling performance and good rate capability as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). After 500 cycles at 1 C, the discharge capacity still reaches 184 mAh g-1. The electrochemical performance is superior to pure TiO2 mesoporous honeycomb spheres and most of the reported high-performance TiO2-based composites. This work provides a new high-performance TiO2-carbon-based composite material for LIBs as well as a new valuable research strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Chen
- College of Machinery and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, People's Republic of China
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Zheng YQ, Yuan YF, Tong ZW, Yin H, Yin SM, Guo SY. Watermelon-like TiO 2 nanoparticle (P25)@microporous amorphous carbon sphere with excellent rate capability and cycling performance for lithium-ion batteries. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 31:215407. [PMID: 32032007 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab73be] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To overcome the inferior rate capability and cycling performance of TiO2 nanomaterials as an anode material of lithium-ion batteries, we encapsulate TiO2 nanoparticles (P25) in carbon spheres through a facile pyrrole polymerization and carbonization. Material characterization demonstrates TiO2 nanoparticles are uniformly embedded in microporous amorphous carbon spheres, forming a watermelon-like structure. P25@C exhibits excellent high rate capability with average discharge capacity of 496, 416, 297, 240, 180, 99, 49 and 25 mAh g-1 at current rate of 0.5C, 1C, 5C, 10C, 20C, 50C, 100C and 200C, which shows superior long-term cycling performance with discharge capacity of 106.9 mAh g-1 at 20C after 5000 cycles. The capacity loss rate is only 0.008% per cycle. The outstanding lithium storage performance is ascribed to the watermelon-like composite structure, which remarkably improves electronic conductivity and structure stability of TiO2 nanoparticles. More importantly, the agglomeration of TiO2 nanoparticles is eliminated, and the entire surface of every TiO2 nanoparticle participates in the electrochemical reaction, which brings about an intense capacitive Li storage effect and leads to the high specific capacity and excellent rate capability of P25@C. This is confirmed through qualitative and quantitative analysis of the contributions from surface capacitive storage and bulk intercalation storage to the total capacity of the composite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Q Zheng
- College of Machinery and Automation, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, People's Republic of China
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