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Zhao MJ, Su SY, Deng N, Shi JQ, Li F, He JB. The Central Role of Nitrogen Atoms in a Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-Derived Catalyst for Cathodic Hydrogen Evolution. CHEMSUSCHEM 2021; 14:3926-3934. [PMID: 34288529 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202101337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Platinum usually offers the most effective active center for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), because of the optimal trade-off between the adsorption and desorption of hydrogeN atoms (H*) on Pt atoms. Herein, we report an unusual result regarding the active center of a HER catalyst, which was synthesized by electrodepositing traces of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) into a porous nitrogen-rich dodecahedron matrix derived from zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8. With an ultra-low Pt loading of 2.76 μg cm-2 , the N-Pt-bonded catalyst can produce a current density of 117 mA cm-2 for the HER in 1.0 m H2 SO4 at an overpotential of 50 mV, whereas the commercial Pt/C (300 μg cm-2 Pt) can only reach 50 mA cm-2 under the same conditions. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrates that both the H* adsorption and the Pt oxidation are not allowed to occur on this catalyst, due to a full surface coverage of the trace Pt NPs by imidazole. The results from the specially designed experiments indicate that the imidazole N atoms may act as proton anchor-sites for the HER due to their electron donor nature. Density functional theory calculations also support a catalytic HER mechanism centered at the Pt-supported N active center, which needs a Gibbs free energy of H* absorption (ΔGH* ) significantly smaller than the absolute value of ΔGH* on the Pt(111) surface. We hope that the results of this study will encourage the research on novel N-centered catalysts for the HER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Jie Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
| | - Sheng-Ying Su
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
| | - Ning Deng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
| | - Jun-Qing Shi
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Fuyang, Jieshou, 236500, P. R. China
| | - Fang Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Fuyang, Jieshou, 236500, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Bo He
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Fuyang, Jieshou, 236500, P. R. China
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Yang XF, Li J, Yang XM, Li CX, Li F, Li B, He JB. High-Performance Bifunctional Ni-Fe-S Catalyst in situ Synthesized within Graphite Intergranular Nanopores for Overall Water Splitting. CHEMSUSCHEM 2021; 14:3131-3138. [PMID: 34076965 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202100891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Low-cost and efficient bifunctional catalysts are urgently needed for overall water splitting used in large-scale energy storage. In this study, we develop a nickel and iron (di)sulfide (Ni-Fe-S) composite catalyst that is in situ synthesized and fixed within the intergranular nanopores inside high pure polycrystalline graphite. Two precursor solutions (reactants) may permeate the graphite intergranular pores to a depth of more than 3.5 mm. The nanoscale pores serve as an array of nanoreactors for the synthesis of the Ni-Fe-S nanoparticles under conditions much milder than usual. The prepared catalyst efficiently catalyzes both the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) in 1.0 M KOH. It delivers a current density of 400 mA cm-2 at a full cell voltage of around 2.3 V without considerable activity decay over 24 h electrolysis. The active species of the catalyst are different for the HER and OER and discussed accordingly. The synthesis strategy based on the nanopores in a monolithic conductive substrate proves to be a simple, efficient, and promising way to prepare electrocatalysts that are cheap, abundant, and industrially attractive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Fan Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P.R. China
| | - Jing Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Ming Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Jieshou, 236500, P.R. China
| | - Chao-Xiong Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Jieshou, 236500, P.R. China
| | - Fang Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Jieshou, 236500, P.R. China
| | - Bing Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Jieshou, 236500, P.R. China
| | - Jian-Bo He
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P.R. China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Power Battery, Tianneng, Jieshou, 236500, P.R. China
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