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Yu J, Li Z, Wang C, Xu X, Liu T, Chen D, Shao Z, Ni M. Engineering advanced noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for energy-saving hydrogen production from alkaline water via urea electrolysis. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 661:629-661. [PMID: 38310771 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.01.183] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
When the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of water splitting is replaced by the urea oxidation reaction (UOR), the electrolyzer can fulfill hydrogen generation in an energy-economic manner for urea electrolysis as well as sewage purification. However, owing to the sluggish kinetics from a six-electron process for UOR, it is in great demand to design and fabricate high-performance and affordable electrocatalysts. Over the past years, numerous non-precious materials (especially nickel-involved samples) have offered huge potential as catalysts for urea electrolysis under alkaline conditions, even in comparison with frequently used noble-metal ones. In this review, recent efforts and progress in these high-efficiency noble-metal-free electrocatalysts are comprehensively summarized. The fundamentals and principles of UOR are first described, followed by highlighting UOR mechanism progress, and then some discussion about density functional theory (DFT) calculations and operando investigations is given to disclose the real reaction mechanism. Afterward, aiming to improve or optimize UOR electrocatalytic properties, various noble-metal-free catalytic materials are introduced in detail and classified into different classes, highlighting the underlying activity-structure relationships. Furthermore, new design trends are also discussed, including targetedly designing nanostructured materials, manipulating anodic products, combining theory and in situ experiments, and constructing bifunctional catalysts. Ultimately, we point out the outlook and explore the possible future opportunities by analyzing the remaining challenges in this booming field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yu
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, PR China; Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urbanization (RISUD), Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urbanization (RISUD), Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urbanization (RISUD), Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
| | - Xiaomin Xu
- WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering (WASM-MECE), Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urbanization (RISUD), Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
| | - Daifen Chen
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, PR China
| | - Zongping Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, PR China; WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering (WASM-MECE), Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6102, Australia.
| | - Meng Ni
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Sustainable Urbanization (RISUD), Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China.
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Quan L, Jiang H, Mei G, Sun Y, You B. Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Overall and Hybrid Water Splitting. Chem Rev 2024; 124:3694-3812. [PMID: 38517093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic water splitting driven by renewable electricity has been recognized as a promising approach for green hydrogen production. Different from conventional strategies in developing electrocatalysts for the two half-reactions of water splitting (e.g., the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, HER and OER) separately, there has been a growing interest in designing and developing bifunctional electrocatalysts, which are able to catalyze both the HER and OER. In addition, considering the high overpotentials required for OER while limited value of the produced oxygen, there is another rapidly growing interest in exploring alternative oxidation reactions to replace OER for hybrid water splitting toward energy-efficient hydrogen generation. This Review begins with an introduction on the fundamental aspects of water splitting, followed by a thorough discussion on various physicochemical characterization techniques that are frequently employed in probing the active sites, with an emphasis on the reconstruction of bifunctional electrocatalysts during redox electrolysis. The design, synthesis, and performance of diverse bifunctional electrocatalysts based on noble metals, nonprecious metals, and metal-free nanocarbons, for overall water splitting in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, are thoroughly summarized and compared. Next, their application toward hybrid water splitting is also presented, wherein the alternative anodic reactions include sacrificing agents oxidation, pollutants oxidative degradation, and organics oxidative upgrading. Finally, a concise statement on the current challenges and future opportunities of bifunctional electrocatalysts for both overall and hybrid water splitting is presented in the hope of guiding future endeavors in the quest for energy-efficient and sustainable green hydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Quan
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Guoliang Mei
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Yujie Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Bo You
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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Wang H, Du X, Zhang X, Li L. Controlled synthesis of M doped Co3O4 (M = Ce, Ni and Fe) on Ni foam as robust electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction and urea oxidation reaction. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 630:512-524. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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