Single‐atom catalysts (SAC) can boost the intrinsic catalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the challenge remains due to the complex synthesis process and insufficient stability. A sustainable approach is applied to synthesizing SACs through laser irradiation and gaining mesoporous graphene oxide (MGO). The surface dangling bonds of nitrogen‐doped MGO (NMGO) extract metal atoms species from Co or Fe metal foams and convert them to SAC via an appropriate synthesis approach. Notably, the Co‐NMGO electrocatalyst requires low potentials of 146 mV to convey a current density of 10 mA cm−2 towards HER. Similarly, the Fe‐NMGO electrocatalyst offers an onset of 0.79 V towards ORR in acidic solution. The individual metal atoms are confirmed via aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure. Density functional theory calculations by applying the grand canonical potential kinetics model revealed that Co‐NMGO shows the optimum free reaction energy of −0.17 eV at −0.1 V for HER, and Fe‐NMGO has less limiting potential than that of Co‐NMGO for ORR case. This work opens a new approach towards the synthesis of SAC and its mechanistic understandings.
Recently, prussian blue analogues (PBAs), as the most classical class of metal-organic frameworks, have been widely studied by scientists. Nevertheless, the inferior conductivity of PBAs restricts the application in supercapacitors. In this work, nickel cobalt hexacyanoferrate (Ni 2 CoHCF) had been produced via a simple co-precipitation approach and coated with polypyrrole on its surface. The conductivity of PBAs was improved by the polypyrrole coating. The Ni 2 CoHCF@PPy-400 microspheres were demonstrated to the outstanding specific capacity of 82 mAh g −1 at 1 A g −1 . After 3000 cycles, the Ni 2 CoHCF@PPy-400 microspheres had a long cycle life and 86% specific capacity retention rate at 5 A g −1 . Additionally, it was coupled with activated carbon to build high performance asymmetric supercapacitor (Ni 2 CoHCF@PPy-400//AC), which displayed a high energy density of 21.7 Wh kg −1 at the power density of 888 W kg −1 and good cycle stability after 5000 cycles (a capacity retention rate of 85.2%). What is more, the results reveal that the Ni 2 CoHCF@PPy-400 microspheresare a prospective candidate for exceptional energy storage devices.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.