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Liu X, Zhu YQ, Li J, Wang Y, Shi Q, Li AZ, Ji K, Wang X, Zhao X, Zheng J, Duan H. Electrosynthesis of adipic acid with high faradaic efficiency within a wide potential window. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7685. [PMID: 39227577 PMCID: PMC11372150 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51951-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrosynthesis of adipic acid (a precursor for nylon-66) from KA oil (a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol) represents a sustainable strategy to replace conventional method that requires harsh conditions. However, its industrial possibility is greatly restricted by the low current density and competitive oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, we modify nickel layered double hydroxide with vanadium to promote current density and maintain high faradaic efficiency (>80%) within a wide potential window (1.5 ~ 1.9 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). Experimental and theoretical studies reveal two key roles of V modification, including accelerating catalyst reconstruction and strengthening cyclohexanone adsorption. As a proof-of-the-concept, we construct a membrane electrode assembly, producing adipic acid with high faradaic efficiency (82%) and productivity (1536 μmol cm-2 h-1) at industrially relevant current density (300 mA cm-2), while achieving >50 hours stability. This work demonstrates an efficient catalyst for adipic acid electrosynthesis with high productivity that shows industrial potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Quan Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Pollutant Analysis & Reuse Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Jing Li
- College of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Ye Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiujin Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - An-Zhen Li
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiyue Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xikang Zhao
- Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Jinyu Zheng
- Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Haohong Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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2
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Zhang X, Tong L, Shi X, Li Z, Xiao Z, Liu Y, Zhang T, Lin S. Tailoring atomically local electric field of NiFe layered double hydroxides with Ag dopants to boost oxygen evolution kinetics. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 668:502-511. [PMID: 38691960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.04.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The demand for clean energy sources has driven focus towards advanced electrochemical systems. However, the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) constrain the energy conversion efficiency of relevant devices. Herein, a one-step method is reported to grow oxygen vacancies (Vo) rich NiFeAg layered double hydroxides nanoclusters on carbon cloth (Vo-NiFeAg-LDH/CC) for serving as the self-supporting electrode to catalyze OER. The OER performance of Vo-NiFeAg-LDH/CC has been remarkably enhanced through Ag and Vo co-modification compared with pristine NiFe-LDH, achieving a low Tafel slope of 49.7 mV dec-1 in 1 m KOH solution. Additionally, the current density of Vo-NiFeAg-LDH/CC is 3.23 times higher than that of the state-of-art IrO2 at 2 V under an alkaline flow electrolyzer setup. Theoretical calculations and experimental results collectively demonstrate that Ag dopant and Vo strengthen the O* adsorption with active sites, further promoting the deprotonation step from OH* to O* and accelerating the catalytic reaction. In a word, this work clarifies the structural correlation and synergistic mechanism of Ag dopant and Vo, providing valuable insights for the rational design of catalyst for renewable energy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Pico Electron Microscopy of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, PR China
| | - Li Tong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Pico Electron Microscopy of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, PR China
| | - Xiahui Shi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Pico Electron Microscopy of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, PR China
| | - Zhaosheng Li
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zhaohui Xiao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Pico Electron Microscopy of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, PR China
| | - Yipu Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Pico Electron Microscopy of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, PR China.
| | - Tao Zhang
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
| | - Shiwei Lin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Pico Electron Microscopy of Hainan Province, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, PR China.
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3
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Zhan G, Hu L, Li H, Dai J, Zhao L, Zheng Q, Zou X, Shi Y, Wang J, Hou W, Yao Y, Zhang L. Highly selective urea electrooxidation coupled with efficient hydrogen evolution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5918. [PMID: 39004672 PMCID: PMC11247087 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50343-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrochemical urea oxidation offers a sustainable avenue for H2 production and wastewater denitrification within the water-energy nexus; however, its wide application is limited by detrimental cyanate or nitrite production instead of innocuous N2. Herein we demonstrate that atomically isolated asymmetric Ni-O-Ti sites on Ti foam anode achieve a N2 selectivity of 99%, surpassing the connected symmetric Ni-O-Ni counterparts in documented Ni-based electrocatalysts with N2 selectivity below 55%, and also deliver a H2 evolution rate of 22.0 mL h-1 when coupled to a Pt counter cathode under 213 mA cm-2 at 1.40 VRHE. These asymmetric sites, featuring oxygenophilic Ti adjacent to Ni, favor interaction with the carbonyl over amino groups in urea, thus preventing premature resonant C⎓N bond breakage before intramolecular N-N coupling towards N2 evolution. A prototype device powered by a commercial Si photovoltaic cell is further developed for solar-powered on-site urine processing and decentralized H2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangming Zhan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Lufa Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Hao Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
| | - Jie Dai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Long Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Qian Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Xingyue Zou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yanbiao Shi
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jiaxian Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Wei Hou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yancai Yao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
| | - Lizhi Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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4
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Li H, Pu Y, Li W, Yan Z, Deng R, Shi F, Zhao C, Zhang Y, Duan T. Sulfur-Vacancy Engineering Accelerates Rapid Surface Reconstruction in Ni-Co Bimetal Sulfide Nanosheet for Urea Oxidation Electrocatalysis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2403311. [PMID: 38874118 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Developing a highly efficient catalyst for electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is not only beneficial for the degradation of urea pollutants in wastewater but also provides a benign route for hydrogen production. Herein, a sulfur-vacancy (Sv) engineering is proposed to accelerate the formation of metal (oxy)hydroxide on the surface of Ni-Co bimetal sulfide nanosheet arrays on nickel foam (Sv-CoNiS@NF) for boosting the urea oxidation electrocatalysis. As a result, the obtained Sv-CoNiS@NF demonstrates an outstanding electrocatalytic UOR performance, which requires a low potential of only 1.397 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode to achieve the current density of 100 mA cm-2. The ex situ Raman spectra and density functional theory calculations reveal the key roles of the Sv site and Co9S8 in promoting the electrocatalytic UOR performance. This work provides a new strategy for accelerating the transformation of electrocatalysts to active metallic (oxy)hydroxide for urea electrolysis via engineering the surface vacancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Yujuan Pu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Zitong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Ruojing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Fanyue Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Chenhao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Youkui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Tao Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
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Ding S, Zheng B, Wang X, Zhou Y, Pan Z, Chen Y, Liu G, Lang L. Intercalated and Surface-Adsorbed Phosphate Anions in NiFe Layered Double-Hydroxide Catalysts Synergistically Enhancing Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:10384-10392. [PMID: 38698714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a crucial semireaction in water electrolysis and rechargeable metal-air batteries, is vital for carbon neutrality. Hindered by a slow proton-coupled electron transfer, an efficient catalyst activating the formation of an O-H bond is essential. Here, we proposed a straightforward one-step hydrothermal procedure for fabricating PO43--modified NiFe layered double-hydroxide (NiFe LDH) catalysts and investigated the role of PO43- anions in enhancing OER. Phosphate amounts can efficiently regulate LDH morphology, crystallinity, composition, and electronic configuration. The optimized sample showed a low overpotential of 267 mV at 10 mA cm-2. Density functional theory calculations revealed that intercalated and surface-adsorbed PO43- anions in NiFe LDH reduced the Gibbs free energy in the rate-determining step of *OOH formation, balancing oxygen-containing intermediate adsorption/dissociation and promoting the OER. Intercalated phosphate ions accelerated precatalyst dehydrogenation kinetics, leading to a rapid reconstruction into active NiFe oxyhydroxide species. Surface-adsorbed PO43- interacted favorably with adsorbed *OOH on the active Ni sites, stabilizing *OOH. Overall, the synergistic effects of intercalated and surface-adsorbed PO43- anions significantly contributed to enhanced OER activity. Achieving optimal catalytic activity requires a delicate equilibrium between thermodynamic and kinetic factors by meticulously regulating the quantity of introduced PO43- ions. This endeavor will facilitate a deeper comprehension of the influence of anions in electrocatalysis for OER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqing Ding
- College of Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Vocational University of Industry Technology, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Bo Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Zhaorui Pan
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Guangxiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Leiming Lang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
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Kundu A, Chakraborty B. Surface Structure to Tailor the Electrochemical Behavior of Mixed-Valence Copper Sulfides during Water Electrolysis. JACS AU 2024; 4:642-656. [PMID: 38425911 PMCID: PMC10900219 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The semiconducting behavior of mixed-valence copper sulfides arises from the pronounced covalency of Cu-S bonds and the exchange coupling between CuI and CuII centers. Although electrocatalytic study with digenite Cu9S5 and covellite CuS has been performed earlier, detailed redox chemistry and its interpretation through lattice structure analysis have never been realized. Herein, nanostructured Cu9S5 and CuS are prepared and used as electrode materials to study their electrochemistry. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and microscopic studies have found the exposed surface of Cu9S5 to be d(0015) and d(002) for CuS. Tetrahedral (Td) CuII, distorted octahedral (Oh) CuII, and trigonal planar (Tp) CuI sites form the d(0015) surface of Cu9S5, while the (002) surface of CuS consists of only Td CuII. The distribution of CuI and CuII sites in the lattice, predicted by PXRD, can further be validated through core-level Cu 2p X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The difference in the electrochemical response of Cu9S5 and CuS arises predominantly from the different copper sites present in the exposed surfaces and their redox states. In situ Raman spectra recorded during cyclic voltammetric study indicates that Cu9S5 is more electrochemically labile compared to CuS and transforms rapidly to CuO/Cu2O. Contact-angle and BET analyses imply that a high-surface-energy and macroporous Cu9S5 surface favors the electrolyte diffusion, which leads to a pronounced redox response. Post-chronoamperometric (CA) characterizations identify the potential-dependent structural transformation of Cu9S5 and CuS to CuO/Cu2O/Cu(OH)2 electroactive species. The performance of the in situ formed copper-oxides towards electrocatalytic water-splitting is superior compared to the pristine copper sulfides. In this study, the redox chemistry of the Cu9S5/CuS has been correlated to the atomic arrangements and coordination geometry of the surface exposed sites. The structure-activity correlation provides in-depth knowledge of how to interpret the electrochemistry of metal sulfides and their in situ potential-driven surface/bulk transformation pathway to evolve the active phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinava Kundu
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Biswarup Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
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7
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Gao X, Zhang S, Wang P, Jaroniec M, Zheng Y, Qiao SZ. Urea catalytic oxidation for energy and environmental applications. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:1552-1591. [PMID: 38168798 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00963g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Urea is one of the most essential reactive nitrogen species in the nitrogen cycle and plays an indispensable role in the water-energy-food nexus. However, untreated urea or urine wastewater causes severe environmental pollution and threatens human health. Electrocatalytic and photo(electro)catalytic urea oxidation technologies under mild conditions have become promising methods for energy recovery and environmental remediation. An in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanisms of the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is important to design efficient electrocatalysts/photo(electro)catalysts for these technologies. This review provides a critical appraisal of the recent advances in the UOR by means of both electrocatalysis and photo(electro)catalysis, aiming to comprehensively assess this emerging field from fundamentals and materials, to practical applications. The emphasis of this review is on the design and development strategies for electrocatalysts/photo(electro)catalysts based on reaction pathways. Meanwhile, the UOR in natural urine is discussed, focusing on the influence of impurity ions. A particular emphasis is placed on the application of the UOR in energy and environmental fields, such as hydrogen production by urea electrolysis, urea fuel cells, and urea/urine wastewater remediation. Finally, future directions, prospects, and remaining challenges are discussed for this emerging research field. This critical review significantly increases the understanding of current progress in urea conversion and the development of a sustainable nitrogen economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintong Gao
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Shuai Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Pengtang Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Mietek Jaroniec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Yao Zheng
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Shi-Zhang Qiao
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
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Miao F, Cui P, Gu T, Yu S, Yan Z, Hai G. Dual cation-modified hierarchical nickel hydroxide nanosheet arrays as efficient and robust electrocatalysts for the urea oxidation reaction. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:1599-1606. [PMID: 38164976 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt02804f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The rational modification of electronic structures to create catalytically active sites has been proved to be a promising strategy to efficiently facilitate the urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Herein, a well-defined nanosheet arrays catalyst of Ni(OH)2 doped with dual cations of Co and Mn on Ni foam (NF) (Co/Mn-Ni(OH)2) is synthesized through a simple hydrothermal process. Benefiting from the advantages of unique structures and modified binding strengths, it is found experimentally that the obtained Co/Mn-Ni(OH)2 catalyst only requires a potential of 1.38 V to deliver a current density of 100 mA cm-2 and exhibits a small Tafel slope of 35 mV dec-1, outperforming single-component-incorporated Ni(OH)2. Moreover, the catalyst has shown excellent stability for 25 h at a current density of 50 mA cm-2. Additionally, first-principles calculations demonstrate that the co-incorporation of Co and Mn remarkably lowers the adsorption barrier of CO(NH2)2* on the catalyst surface, and accelerates the dissociation of the CO(NH2)2* intermediate into CO* and NH* intermediates, which synergistically improve the UOR reaction kinetics. This work provides a generic paradigm for designing advanced and effective catalysts toward the UOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Miao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China.
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Advanced Metal Materials for Special Environments, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Peng Cui
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Tao Gu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China.
| | - Shijie Yu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhijie Yan
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China.
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Advanced Metal Materials for Special Environments, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Guangtong Hai
- Guangtong Hai Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Function Materials for Molecule & Structure Construction, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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Li L, Zhang X, Humayun M, Xu X, Shang Z, Li Z, Yuen MF, Hong C, Chen Z, Zeng J, Bououdina M, Temst K, Wang X, Wang C. Manipulation of Electron Spins with Oxygen Vacancy on Amorphous/Crystalline Composite-Type Catalyst. ACS NANO 2024; 18:1214-1225. [PMID: 38150422 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
By substituting the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with the anodic urea oxidation reaction (UOR), it not only reduces energy consumption for green hydrogen generation but also allows purification of urea-rich wastewater. Spin engineering of the d orbital and oxygen-containing adsorbates has been recognized as an effective pathway for enhancing the performance of electrocatalysts. In this work, we report the fabrication of a bifunctional electrocatalyst composed of amorphous RuO2-coated NiO ultrathin nanosheets (a-RuO2/NiO) with abundant amorphous/crystalline interfaces for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and UOR. Impressively, only 1.372 V of voltage is required to attain a current density of 10 mA cm-2 over a urea electrolyzer. The increased oxygen vacancies in a-RuO2/NiO by incorporation of amorphous RuO2 enhance the total magnetization and entail numerous spin-polarized electrons during the reaction, which speeds up the UOR reaction kinetics. The density functional theory study reveals that the amorphous/crystalline interfaces promote charge-carrier transfer, and the tailored d-band center endows the optimized adsorption of oxygen-generated intermediates. This kind of oxygen vacancy induced spin-polarized electrons toward boosting HER and UOR kinetics and provides a reliable reference for exploration of advanced electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linfeng Li
- School of Integrated Circuits, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Zhang
- School of Integrated Circuits, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Muhammad Humayun
- Energy, Water and Environment Lab, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xuefei Xu
- School of Integrated Circuits, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixuan Shang
- Department of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Faculty of Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhishan Li
- Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, People's Republic of China
| | - Muk Fung Yuen
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxia Hong
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhua Chen
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianrong Zeng
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Mohamed Bououdina
- Energy, Water and Environment Lab, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kristiaan Temst
- Quantum Solid State Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D Box 2418, B 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Imec, Kapeldreef 75, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- Department of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Faculty of Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, People's Republic of China
| | - Chundong Wang
- School of Integrated Circuits, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
- Energy, Water and Environment Lab, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
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Qian Q, Zhu Y, Ahmad N, Feng Y, Zhang H, Cheng M, Liu H, Xiao C, Zhang G, Xie Y. Recent Advancements in Electrochemical Hydrogen Production via Hybrid Water Splitting. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2306108. [PMID: 37815215 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
As one of the most promising approaches to producing high-purity hydrogen (H2 ), electrochemical water splitting powered by the renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power has attracted considerable interest over the past decade. However, the water electrolysis process is seriously hampered by the sluggish electrode reaction kinetics, especially the four-electron oxygen evolution reaction at the anode side, which induces a high reaction overpotential. Currently, the emerging hybrid electrochemical water splitting strategy is proposed by integrating thermodynamically favorable electro-oxidation reactions with hydrogen evolution reaction at the cathode, providing a new opportunity for energy-efficient H2 production. To achieve highly efficient and cost-effective hybrid water splitting toward large-scale practical H2 production, much work has been continuously done to exploit the alternative anodic oxidation reactions and cutting-edge electrocatalysts. This review will focus on recent developments on electrochemical H2 production coupled with alternative oxidation reactions, including the choice of anodic substrates, the investigation on electrocatalytic materials, and the deep understanding of the underlying reaction mechanisms. Finally, some insights into the scientific challenges now standing in the way of future advancement of the hybrid water electrolysis technique are shared, in the hope of inspiring further innovative efforts in this rapidly growing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qizhu Qian
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yin Zhu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Nazir Ahmad
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yafei Feng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Huaikun Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Mingyu Cheng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Huanhuan Liu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Chong Xiao
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P. R. China
| | - Genqiang Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yi Xie
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P. R. China
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11
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Huo JM, Wang Y, Xue JN, Yuan WY, Zhai QG, Hu MC, Li SN, Chen Y. High-Valence Metal Doping Induced Lattice Expansion for M-FeNi LDH toward Enhanced Urea Oxidation Electrocatalytic Activities. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2305877. [PMID: 37718437 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The precise design of low-cost, efficient, and definite electrocatalysts is the key to sustainable renewable energy. The urea oxidation reaction (UOR) offers a promising alternative to the oxygen evolution reaction for energy-saving hydrogen generation. In this study, by tuning the lattice expansion, a series of M-FeNi layered double hydroxides (M-FeNi LDHs, M: Mo, Mn, V) with excellent UOR performance are synthesized. The hydrolytic transformation of Fe-MIL-88A is assisted by urea, Ni2+ and high-valence metals, to form a hollow M-FeNi LDH. Owing to the large atomic radius of the high-valence metal, lattice expansion is induced, and the electronic structure of the FeNi-LDH is regulated. Doping with high-valence metal is more favorable for the formation of the high-valence active species, NiOOH, for the UOR. Moreover, the hollow spindle structure promoted mass transport. Thus, the optimal Mo-FeNi LDH showed outstanding UOR electrocatalytic activity, with 1.32 V at 10 mA cm-2 . Remarkably, the Pt/C||Mo-FeNi LDH catalyst required a cell voltage of 1.38 V at 10 mA·cm-2 in urea-assisted water electrolysis. This study suggests a new direction for constructing nanostructures and modulating electronic structures, which is expected to ultimately lead to the development of a class of auxiliary electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Min Huo
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Jiang-Nan Xue
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Wen-Yu Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Quan-Guo Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Man-Cheng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Shu-Ni Li
- Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Yu Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
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12
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Zhang Y, Zhang W, Lei Y, Huang J, Lin Z, Lai Y. Iron-optimized oxygen vacancy concentration to strengthen the electrocatalytic ability of the urea oxidation reaction. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:14395-14398. [PMID: 38010126 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03889k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Iron-modified Ni(OH)2/NiSe2 enhances oxygen vacancies, expanding the electrochemically active surface area, which exhibiting superior selectivity and stability in urea oxidation reaction, outperforming pristine Ni(OH)2@NiSe2. It also demonstrates superior catalytic performance in the oxidation reactions of other small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingzhen Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Chemical Fertilizer Catalyst (NERC-CFC), College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, P. R. China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Chemical Fertilizer Catalyst (NERC-CFC), College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, P. R. China.
| | - Yonggang Lei
- National Engineering Research Center of Chemical Fertilizer Catalyst (NERC-CFC), College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, P. R. China.
| | - Jianying Huang
- National Engineering Research Center of Chemical Fertilizer Catalyst (NERC-CFC), College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, P. R. China.
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou 362801, P. R. China
| | - Zhiqun Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117585, Singapore.
| | - Yuekun Lai
- National Engineering Research Center of Chemical Fertilizer Catalyst (NERC-CFC), College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, P. R. China.
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou 362801, P. R. China
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13
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Zhang B, Qiu S, Xing Y, Zhao G, Liao W, Mu L, Zhao N. Introduction of Cationic Vacancies into NiFe LDH by In Situ Etching To Improve Overall Water Splitting Performance. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023. [PMID: 38019648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Nickel-iron layered double hydroxide (NiFe LDH) is still one of the hot catalysts for electrochemical water decomposition applications, despite its drawbacks, such as intrinsic activity and poor stability. In this work, the NiFe LDH-D1 electrocatalyst with cationic vacancies is successfully prepared by alkaline etching of Zn ion-doped NiFe LDH. The tightly arranged flocculated nanosheet structure on its surface provided a large active area. The cationic vacancies formed by strong alkaline etching not only promote the conversion of active phases such as NiOOH but also strengthen the stability of the electrode and the binding ability with oxygen so that the material has excellent catalytic properties along with alkaline long-term stability. At a current density of 10 and 100 mA cm-2, NiFe LDH-D1 shows a small voltage of 1.56 and 1.94 V, and at a current density of 200 mA cm-2, it performs well in a 72 h electrochemical water decomposition stability test. The present work demonstrates a simple etching strategy for cation vacancy engineering and provides an example of the construction of efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts with long-term stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baojie Zhang
- School of Physics and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Shipeng Qiu
- School of Physics and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Yupeng Xing
- School of Physics and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Gang Zhao
- School of Physics and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410017, PR China
| | - Wenbo Liao
- School of Physics and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Lan Mu
- School of Physics and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Ning Zhao
- School of Physics and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
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14
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Xu Y, Wang R, Feng C, Zhang X, Wang N, Zhang Q, Xie M, Xu Y, Jiao Y, Chen J. Controlling the electronic structure of Fe-MOF electrocatalyst for enhanced water splitting and urea oxidation: A plasma-assisted approach. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 650:1290-1300. [PMID: 37478746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
The design of high-performance electrocatalysts for water splitting and urea oxidation reactions requires effective regulation of their electronic structure and electrochemical surface area (ECSA). In this study, we developed an in-situ grown Fe-MOF electrocatalyst on Fe foam (FF) by using a combination of easy hydrothermal synthesis and advanced plasma technology (Fe-MOF/FF). By varying the plasma treatment time, we could tailor the surface morphology and electronic structure of the Fe-MOF/FF microrods. Meanwhile, density functional theory (DFT) calculations investigated the catalytic mechanism, revealing that plasma-treated Fe-MOF/FF has a lower energy barrier for water splitting and H* adsorption during the HER process, and higher catalytic activity for UOR. Additionally, the electronic density of optimized Fe-MOF/FF is significantly expanded near the Fermi level. Remarkably, our catalysts achieved exceptional activity in both water splitting and urea electrolysis, requiring only 1.54 V and 1.472 V, respectively, at 10 mA cm-2, with excellent stability. Our findings highlight the potential of plasma technology as a powerful tool for developing multifunctional electrocatalysts for clean energy and industrial wastewater treatment applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiu Xu
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Ran Wang
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Chao Feng
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Nana Wang
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Meng Xie
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Yanchao Xu
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Yang Jiao
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
| | - Jianrong Chen
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
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15
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Huang CJ, Xu HM, Shuai TY, Zhan QN, Zhang ZJ, Li GR. Modulation Strategies for the Preparation of High-Performance Catalysts for Urea Oxidation Reaction and Their Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2301130. [PMID: 37434036 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202301130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Compared with the traditional electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen, urea-assisted electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen has significant advantages and has received extensive attention from researchers. Unfortunately, urea oxidation reaction (UOR) involves a complex six-electron transfer process leading to high overpotential, which forces researchers to develop high-performance UOR catalysts to drive the development of urea-assisted water splitting. Based on the UOR mechanism and extensive literature research, this review summarizes the strategies for preparing highly efficient UOR catalysts. First, the UOR mechanism is introduced and the characteristics of excellent UOR catalysts are pointed out. Aiming at this, the following modulation strategies are proposed to improve the catalytic performance based on summarizing various literature: 1) Accelerating the active phase formation to reduce initial potential; 2) Creating double active sites to trigger a new UOR mechanism; 3) Accelerating urea adsorption and promoting C─N bond cleavage to ensure the effective conduct of UOR; 4) Promoting the desorption of CO2 to improve stability and prevent catalyst poisoning; 5) Promoting electron transfer to overcome the inherent slow dynamics of UOR; 6) Increasing active sites or active surface area. Then, the application of UOR in electrochemical devices is summarized. Finally, the current deficiencies and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Jin Huang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Hui-Min Xu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Ting-Yu Shuai
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Qi-Ni Zhan
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Gao-Ren Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
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16
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Zhang K, Wang S, Li X, Li H, Ni Y. Phase Segregation in Cu 0.5 Ni 0.5 Alloy Boosting Urea-Assisted Hydrogen Production in Alkaline Media. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2300959. [PMID: 36970833 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Coupling urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is promising for energy-efficient hydrogen production. However, developing cheap and highly active bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall urea electrolysis remains challenging. In this work, a metastable Cu0.5 Ni0.5 alloy is synthesized by a one-step electrodeposition method. It only requires the potentials of 1.33 and -28 mV to obtain the current density of ±10 mA cm-2 for UOR and HER, respectively. The metastable alloy is considered to be the main reason causing the above excellent performances. In the alkaline medium, the as-prepared Cu0.5 Ni0.5 alloy exhibits good stability for HER; and conversely, NiOOH species can be rapidly formed during the UOR due to the phase segregation of Cu0.5 Ni0.5 alloy. In particular, for the energy-saving hydrogen generation system coupled with HER and UOR, only 1.38 V of voltage is needed at 10 mA cm-2 ; and at 100 mA cm-2 , the voltage decreases by ≈305 mV compared with that of the routine water electrolysis system (HER || OER). Compared with some catalysts reported recently, the Cu0.5 Ni0.5 catalyst owns superior electrocatalytic activity and durability. Furthermore, this work provides a simple, mild, and rapid method for designing highly active bifunctional electrocatalysts toward urea-supporting overall water splitting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuanjian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for New-Energy Vehicle Battery Energy-Storage Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, P. R. China
| | - Shaoxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for New-Energy Vehicle Battery Energy-Storage Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, P. R. China
| | - Xinyue Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for New-Energy Vehicle Battery Energy-Storage Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, P. R. China
| | - Huihui Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for New-Energy Vehicle Battery Energy-Storage Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, P. R. China
| | - Yonghong Ni
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for New-Energy Vehicle Battery Energy-Storage Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, P. R. China
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17
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Electrocatalytic water oxidation with layered double hydroxides confining single atoms. Coord Chem Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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