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Bai J, Lin Y, Xu J, Zhou W, Zhou P, Deng Y, Lian Y. PGM-free single atom catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:7113-7123. [PMID: 38912537 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc02106a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The progress of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in the clean energy sector is notable for its efficiency and eco-friendliness, although challenges remain in terms of durability, cost and power density. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key sluggish process and although current platinum-based catalysts are effective, their high cost and instability is a significant barrier. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer an economically viable alternative with comparable catalytic activity for ORR. The primary concern regarding SACs is their operational stability under PEMFCs conditions. In this article, we review current strategies for increasing the catalytic activity of SACs, including increasing active site density, optimizing metal center coordination through heteroatom doping, and engineering porous substrates. To enhance durability, we discuss methods to stabilize metal centers, mitigate the effects of the Fenton reaction, and improve graphitization of the carbon matrix. Future research should apply computational chemistry to predict catalyst properties, develop in situ characterization for real-time active site analysis, explore novel catalysts without the use of platinum-based catalysts to reduce dependence on rare and noble metal, and investigate the long-term stability of catalyst under operating conditions. The aim is to engineer SACs that meet and surpass the performance benchmarks of PEMFCs, contributing to a sustainable energy future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jirong Bai
- Research Center of Secondary Resources and Environment, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou, 213022, China.
| | - Yao Lin
- Research Center of Secondary Resources and Environment, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou, 213022, China.
| | - Jinnan Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213022, China
| | - Wangkai Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213022, China
| | - Pin Zhou
- Research Center of Secondary Resources and Environment, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou, 213022, China.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213022, China
| | - Yaoyao Deng
- Research Center of Secondary Resources and Environment, School of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou, 213022, China.
| | - Yuebin Lian
- School of Optoelectronics, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou, 213022, China.
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Deng M, Wang D, Li Y. General Design Concept of High-Performance Single-Atom-Site Catalysts for H 2O 2 Electrosynthesis. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2314340. [PMID: 38439595 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202314340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a green oxidizing agent is widely used in various fields. Electrosynthesis of H2O2 has gradually become a hotspot due to its convenient and environment-friendly features. Single-atom-site catalysts (SASCs) with uniform active sites are the ideal catalysts for the in-depth study of the reaction mechanism and structure-performance relationship. In this review, the outstanding achievements of SASCs in the electrosynthesis of H2O2 through 2e- oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and 2e- water oxygen reaction (WOR) in recent years, are summarized. First, the elementary steps of the two pathways and the roles of key intermediates (*OOH and *OH) in the reactions are systematically discussed. Next, the influence of the size effect, electronic structure regulation, the support/interfacial effect, the optimization of coordination microenvironments, and the SASCs-derived catalysts applied in 2e- ORR are systematically analyzed. Besides, the developments of SASCs in 2e- WOR are also overviewed. Finally, the research progress of H2O2 electrosynthesis on SASCs is concluded, and an outlook on the rational design of SASCs is presented in conjunction with the design strategies and characterization techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Deng
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Dingsheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yadong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Yu N, Bello IT, Chen X, Liu T, Li Z, Song Y, Ni M. Rational Design of Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskite Ferrites as Air Electrode for Highly Active and Durable Reversible Protonic Ceramic Cells. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:177. [PMID: 38647738 PMCID: PMC11035539 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01397-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Reversible protonic ceramic cells (RePCCs) hold promise for efficient energy storage, but their practicality is hindered by a lack of high-performance air electrode materials. Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite Sr3Fe2O7-δ (SF) exhibits superior proton uptake and rapid ionic conduction, boosting activity. However, excessive proton uptake during RePCC operation degrades SF's crystal structure, impacting durability. This study introduces a novel A/B-sites co-substitution strategy for modifying air electrodes, incorporating Sr-deficiency and Nb-substitution to create Sr2.8Fe1.8Nb0.2O7-δ (D-SFN). Nb stabilizes SF's crystal, curbing excessive phase formation, and Sr-deficiency boosts oxygen vacancy concentration, optimizing oxygen transport. The D-SFN electrode demonstrates outstanding activity and durability, achieving a peak power density of 596 mW cm-2 in fuel cell mode and a current density of - 1.19 A cm-2 in electrolysis mode at 1.3 V, 650 °C, with excellent cycling durability. This approach holds the potential for advancing robust and efficient air electrodes in RePCCs for renewable energy storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Yu
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Idris Temitope Bello
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufei Song
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Meng Ni
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
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Zhao Q, Zhao B, Long X, Feng R, Shakouri M, Paterson A, Xiao Q, Zhang Y, Fu XZ, Luo JL. Interfacial Electronic Modulation of Dual-Monodispersed Pt-Ni 3S 2 as Efficacious Bi-Functional Electrocatalysts for Concurrent H 2 Evolution and Methanol Selective Oxidation. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:80. [PMID: 38206434 PMCID: PMC10784266 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01282-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Constructing the efficacious and applicable bi-functional electrocatalysts and establishing out the mechanisms of organic electro-oxidation by replacing anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are critical to the development of electrochemically-driven technologies for efficient hydrogen production and avoid CO2 emission. Herein, the hetero-nanocrystals between monodispersed Pt (~ 2 nm) and Ni3S2 (~ 9.6 nm) are constructed as active electrocatalysts through interfacial electronic modulation, which exhibit superior bi-functional activities for methanol selective oxidation and H2 generation. The experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the asymmetrical charge distribution at Pt-Ni3S2 could be modulated by the electronic interaction at the interface of dual-monodispersed heterojunctions, which thus promote the adsorption/desorption of the chemical intermediates at the interface. As a result, the selective conversion from CH3OH to formate is accomplished at very low potentials (1.45 V) to attain 100 mA cm-2 with high electronic utilization rate (~ 98%) and without CO2 emission. Meanwhile, the Pt-Ni3S2 can simultaneously exhibit a broad potential window with outstanding stability and large current densities for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode. Further, the excellent bi-functional performance is also indicated in the coupled methanol oxidation reaction (MOR)//HER reactor by only requiring a cell voltage of 1.60 V to achieve a current density of 50 mA cm-2 with good reusability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Energy Electrocatalytic Materials, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Energy Electrocatalytic Materials, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xin Long
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Energy Electrocatalytic Materials, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Renfei Feng
- Canadian Light Source Inc., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X4, Canada
| | | | - Alisa Paterson
- Canadian Light Source Inc., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Qunfeng Xiao
- Canadian Light Source Inc., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Yu Zhang
- Instrumental Analysis Center of Shenzhen University (Lihu Campus), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Xian-Zhu Fu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Energy Electrocatalytic Materials, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-Li Luo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Energy Electrocatalytic Materials, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China.
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Xie J, Wang F, Zhou Y, Dong Y, Chai Y, Dong B. Internal Polarization Field Induced Hydroxyl Spillover Effect for Industrial Water Splitting Electrolyzers. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 16:39. [PMID: 38032501 PMCID: PMC10689691 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01253-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The formation of multiple oxygen intermediates supporting efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are affinitive with hydroxyl adsorption. However, ability of the catalyst to capture hydroxyl and maintain the continuous supply at active sits remains a tremendous challenge. Herein, an affordable Ni2P/FeP2 heterostructure is presented to form the internal polarization field (IPF), arising hydroxyl spillover (HOSo) during OER. Facilitated by IPF, the oriented HOSo from FeP2 to Ni2P can activate the Ni site with a new hydroxyl transmission channel and build the optimized reaction path of oxygen intermediates for lower adsorption energy, boosting the OER activity (242 mV vs. RHE at 100 mA cm-2) for least 100 h. More interestingly, for the anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) with low concentration electrolyte, the advantage of HOSo effect is significantly amplified, delivering 1 A cm-2 at a low cell voltage of 1.88 V with excellent stability for over 50 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiwen Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongming Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People's Republic of China.
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He K, Huang Z, Chen C, Qiu C, Zhong YL, Zhang Q. Exploring the Roles of Single Atom in Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 16:23. [PMID: 37985523 PMCID: PMC10661544 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01231-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
This comprehensive review provides a deep exploration of the unique roles of single atom catalysts (SACs) in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. SACs offer multiple benefits over traditional catalysts such as improved efficiency, selectivity, and flexibility due to their distinct electronic structure and unique properties. The review discusses the critical elements in the design of SACs, including the choice of metal atom, host material, and coordination environment, and how these elements impact the catalytic activity. The role of single atoms in photocatalytic H2O2 production is also analysed, focusing on enhancing light absorption and charge generation, improving the migration and separation of charge carriers, and lowering the energy barrier of adsorption and activation of reactants. Despite these advantages, several challenges, including H2O2 decomposition, stability of SACs, unclear mechanism, and low selectivity, need to be overcome. Looking towards the future, the review suggests promising research directions such as direct utilization of H2O2, high-throughput synthesis and screening, the creation of dual active sites, and employing density functional theory for investigating the mechanisms of SACs in H2O2 photosynthesis. This review provides valuable insights into the potential of single atom catalysts for advancing the field of photocatalytic H2O2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelin He
- International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Zimo Huang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4222, Australia
- Institute for Sustainable Transformation, School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China
| | - Chao Chen
- International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Chuntian Qiu
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China.
| | - Yu Lin Zhong
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Qitao Zhang
- International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
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