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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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Li X, Wang Y, Du X, Zhang X. Controlled synthesis of Cr x-FeCo 2P nanoarrays on nickel foam for overall urea splitting. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:1797-1805. [PMID: 36656043 DOI: 10.1039/d2dt04163d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Urea splitting is a highly promising technology for hydrogen production to cope with the fossil energy crisis, which requires the development of catalysts with high electrocatalytic activity. In this article, Crx-FeCo2P/NF catalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal and low-temperature phosphorylation and used in the overall urea splitting process. Cr0.15-FeCo2P/NF and Cr0.1-FeCo2P/NF exhibited excellent urea oxidation reaction (UOR) activity (potential of 1.355 V at 100 mA cm-2) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity (overpotential of 173 mV at 10 mA cm-2) in 0.5 M urea solution containing 1 M KOH. In the assembled Cr0.15-FeCo2P/NF//Cr0.1-FeCo2P/NF electrolytic cell, only a small voltage of 1.50 V is needed to reach 10 mA cm-2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation results demonstrate that an appropriate amount of Cr doping accelerates the kinetic performance of hydrogen production as well as improving the metallic properties of the electrode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of High Performance Battery Materials and Devices, North University of China, Xueyuan road 3, Taiyuan 030051, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yanhong Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of High Performance Battery Materials and Devices, North University of China, Xueyuan road 3, Taiyuan 030051, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoqiang Du
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of High Performance Battery Materials and Devices, North University of China, Xueyuan road 3, Taiyuan 030051, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoshuang Zhang
- School of Environment and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Xueyuan road 3, Taiyuan 030051, People's Republic of China
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