Recent progress on the synthesis of metal alloy nanowires as electrocatalysts

Design and multilevel regulation of transition metal phosphides for efficient and industrial water electrolysis

Renewable energy electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen is an effective measure to break the energy dilemma. However, achieving activity and stability at a high current density is still a key problem in water electrolyzers. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs), with high activity and relative inexpensiveness, have become excellent candidates for the production of highly pure green hydrogen for industrial applications. In this mini-review, multilevel regulation strategies including nanoscale control, surface composition and interface structure design of high-performance TMPs for hydrogen evolution are systematically summarized. On this basis, in order to achieve large-scale hydrogen production in industry, the hydrogen evolution performance and stability of TMPs at a high current density are also discussed. Peculiarly, the practical application and requirements in proton exchange membrane (PEM) or anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers can guide the advanced design of regulatory strategies of TMPs for green hydrogen production from renewable energy. Finally, the challenges and prospects in the future development trend of TMPs for efficient and industrial water electrolysis are given.

Au Doping PtNi Nanodendrites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation Reaction

To boost the electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) of Platinum (Pt), making binary PtM (M = transition metals, for example, Fe, Cu, and Ni) with specific morphology is known as a promising method. Although great progress has been made in the synthesis of shaped PtM catalysts toward MOR, enhancing the catalytic performance of the PtM to enable it to be commercialized is still a hotspot. In this work, the Au-doped PtNi dendritic nanoparticles (Au-PtNi DNPs) were obtained by doping a small amount of gold (Au) into initially prepared PtNi DNPs, greatly improving their MOR catalytic activity and durability. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping (EDXS) indicates that the surface of DNPs is mainly composed of Au dopant and PtNi, while the core is mainly Pt, indicating the formation of Au-doped PtNi/Pt core-shell-like DNP structures. The electrocatalytic performance of the prepared Au-PtNi DNPs with different compositions for the MOR was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and CO-stripping tests. The experimental findings indicate that the Au-PtNi DNPs showed better MOR performance in comparison with PtNi DNPs and commercial Pt catalysts. Among all the catalysts, 6% Au-PtNi DNPs showed 4.3 times improved mass catalytic activity for the MOR in comparison with commercial Pt catalysts. In addition, all the prepared Au-PtNi DNPs display a remarkable CO tolerance compared to that of PtNi DNPs and commercial Pt catalysts. The dendritic structure of Au-PtNi DNPs can effectively enhance catalytic performance, combined with the electronic effect of Au, Pt, and Ni.

Versatile Applications of Silver Nanowire-Based Electrodes and Their Impacts

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is currently the most widely used material for transparent electrodes; however, it has several drawbacks, including high cost, brittleness, and environmental concerns. Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are promising alternatives to ITO as materials for transparent electrodes owing to their high electrical conductivity, transparency in the visible range of wavelengths, and flexibility. AgNWs are effective for various electronic device applications, such as touch panels, biosensors, and solar cells. However, the high synthesis cost of AgNWs and their poor stability to external chemical and mechanical damages are significant challenges that need to be addressed. In this review paper, we discuss the current state of research on AgNW transparent electrodes, including their synthesis, properties, and potential applications.