A galvanic deposition method for the in‐situ formation of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on top and inner surfaces of high‐aspect‐ratio black TiO2‐nanotube electrodes (bTNTs) for true utilization of their total surface area has been developed. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the deposition of Pt NPs was favored on bTNTs with a preferred [004] orientation and a deposition mechanism occurring via oxygen vacancies, where electrons were localized. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy images revealed a graded deposition of Pt NPs with an average diameter of around 2.5 nm along the complete nanotube axis (length/pore diameter of 130 : 1). Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) studies in acidic electrolytes showed comparable results to bulk Pt (per geometric area) and Pt/C commercial catalysts (per mg of Pt). The presented novel HER cathodes of minimal engineering and low noble metal loadings (μg cm−2 range) achieved low Tafel slopes (30–34 mV dec−1) and high stability in acidic conditions. This study provides important insights for the in‐situ formation and deposition of NPs in high‐aspect‐ratio structures for energy applications.
Water photoelectrolysis
has the potential to produce renewable
hydrogen fuel, therefore addressing the intermittent nature of sunlight.
Herein, a monolithic, photovoltaic (PV)-assisted water electrolysis
device of minimal engineering and of low (in the μg range) noble-metal-free
catalysts loading is presented for unassisted water splitting in alkaline
media. An efficient double perovskite cobaltite catalyst, originally
developed for high-temperature proton-conducting ceramic electrolyzers,
possesses high activity for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline
media at room temperatures too. Ba
1–
x
Gd
1–
y
La
x
+
y
Co
2
O
6−δ
(BGLC) is combined with a NiMo cathode, and a solar-to-hydrogen
efficiency of 6.6% in 1.0 M NaOH, under 1 sun simulated illumination
for 71 h, is demonstrated. This work highlights how readily available
earth-abundant materials and established PV methods can achieve high
performance and stable and monolithic photoelectrolysis devices with
potential for full-scale applications.
There is a growing need to control and tune nanoparticles (NPs) to increase their stability and effectiveness, especially for photo‐ and electrochemical energy conversion applications. Exsolved particles are well anchored and can be re‐shaped without changing their initial location and structural arrangement. However, this usually involves lengthy treatments and use of toxic gases. Here, the galvanic replacement/deposition method is used, which is simpler, safer, and leads to a wealth of new hybrid nanostructures with a higher degree of tailorability. The produced NiAu bimetallic nanostructures supported on SrTiO3 display exceptional activity in plasmon‐assisted photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation reactions. In situ scanning transmission electron microscopy is used to visualize the structural evolution of the plasmonic bimetallic structures, while theoretical simulations provide mechanistic insight and correlate the surface plasmon resonance effects with structural features and enhanced PEC performance. The versatility of this concept in shifting catalytic modes to the hydrogen evolution reaction is demonstrated by preparing hybrid NiPt bimetallic NPs of low Pt loadings on highly reduced SrTiO3 supports. This powerful methodology enables the design of supported bimetallic nanomaterials with tunable morphology and catalytic functionalities through minimal engineering.
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