An Engineered Superhydrophilic/Superaerophobic Electrocatalyst Composed of the Supported CoMoS_x Chalcogel for Overall Water Splitting

Abstract

The development of high‐efficiency electrocatalysts for large‐scale water splitting is critical but also challenging. In this study, a hierarchical CoMoSx chalcogel was synthesized on a nickel foam (NF) through an in situ metathesis reaction and demonstrated excellent activity and stability in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media. The high catalytic activity could be ascribed to the abundant active sites/defects in the amorphous framework and promotion of activity through cobalt doping. Furthermore, the superhydrophilicity and superaerophobicity of micro‐/nanostructured CoMoSx/NF promoted mass transfer by facilitating access of electrolytes and ensuring fast release of gas bubbles. By employing CoMoSx/NF as bifunctional electrocatalysts, the overall water splitting device delivered a current density of 500 mA cm−2 at a low voltage of 1.89 V and maintained its activity without decay for 100 h.

Bioinspired NADH Regeneration Based on Conjugated Photocatalytic Systems

“…[ 100 ] Understanding of gas–liquid–solid three‐phase interfaces has started to revolutionize the design and development of photo‐/electrocatalysts. [ 101 ] By manipulating the synthesis and interface engineering of the conjugated polymers, the novel “phase‐boundary biocatalyst” featuring the different superwetting properties will be obtained and used in the NADH regeneration‐based photoenzymatic system and also go beyond into the cofactor‐independent photo‐/electro‐enzymatic systems.…”

Water Splitting: From Electrode to Green Energy System

“…Moreover, the use of different catalysts in the same system often needs different equipment and methods, which increases the complicacy and cost of the system. And also, the wettability of the electrocatalyst with electrolyte and the rapid desorption of bubbles generated on the electrodes are very important in the process of water splitting [22][23][24]. If the generated gas bubbles are difficult to break away from the surface of electrode, the active site of electrocatalyst will be covered as well as the electrolyte will be difficult to diffuse to access the interface of catalyst/electrolyte [25].…”

Interface Engineering of Binder‐Free Earth‐Abundant Electrocatalysts for Efficient Advanced Energy Conversion

“…Moreover, the binder‐free electrocatalysts are further designed followed by the guideline that takes account of both superhydrophilicity and superaerophobicity. For example, a hierarchical CoMoS x was prepared as an efficient and durable electrocatalyst toward HER and OER in alkaline media . The contact‐angle measurements confirmed the CoMoS x was superhydrophilic to the electrolyte.…”