Bubble Engineering on Micro-/Nanostructured Electrodes for Water Splitting

Li, Mengxuan; Xie, Pengpeng; Yu, Linfeng; Luo, Liang; Sun, Xiaoming

doi:10.1021/acsnano.3c08831

Cited by 49 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 118 publications

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“…In electrochemical processes, gas bubbles can impact reactions, hindering hydrogen production if excessively accumulated on the catalyst surface. , To address this challenge, our group synthesized a 0D/1D hierarchical heterostructure (MoNi/NiMnO x on a 3D porous NF) to enhance the efficiency of the hydrogen evolution reaction . The catalyst effectively manages bubbles, displaying smaller and more rapidly dispersed H 2 bubbles than Pt/C (Figure e).…”

Section: Multiscale Approach To Water Electrolysismentioning

confidence: 99%

From Atomic-Level Synthesis to Device-Scale Reactors: A Multiscale Approach to Water Electrolysis

Du,

Qi,

Wang

2024

Acc. Chem. Res.

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Metrics & MoreArticle Recommendations CONSPECTUS:The development of an advanced energy conversion system for water electrolysis with high efficiency and durability is of great significance for a hydrogen-powered society. This progress relies on the fabrication of electrocatalysts with superior electrochemical performance. Despite decades of advancements in exploring high-performance noble and non-noble metal electrocatalysts, several challenges persist at both the micro-and macrolevels in the field of water electrolysis. At the microlevel, which encompasses electrocatalyst synthesis and characterization, design strategies for high-performance electrocatalysts have primarily focused on interface chemical engineering. However, comprehensive understanding and investigation of interface chemical engineering across various length scales, from micrometers to atomic scales, are still lacking. This deficiency hampers the rational design of catalysts with optimal performance. Under harsh reaction conditions, such as high bias potential and highly acidic or alkaline media, the surface of catalyst materials is susceptible to undergoing "reconstruction", deviating from what is observed through ex situ characterization techniques postsynthesis. Conventional ex situ characterization methods do not provide an accurate depiction of the catalyst's structural evolution during the electrocatalytic reaction, hindering the exploration of the catalytic mechanism.At the macrolevel, pertaining to catalysis-performance evaluation systems and devices, traditional laboratory settings employ a conventional three-electrode or two-electrode system to assess the catalytic performance of electrocatalysts. However, this approach does not accurately simulate hydrogen production under realistic industrial conditions, such as elevated temperatures (60−70 °C), high current densities exceeding 0.5 A cm −2 , and flowing electrolytes. To address this limitation, it is crucial to develop testing equipment and methodologies that replicate the actual industrial conditions. In this Account, we propose a multiscale research framework for water electrolysis, spanning from microscale synthesis to macroscale scaled reactor design. Our approach focuses on the design and evaluation of high-performance HER/OER (hydrogen evolution reaction/oxygen evolution reaction) electrocatalysts, incorporating the following strategies: Leveraging principles of interface chemical engineering across various length scales (micrometers, nanometers, and atoms) enables the design of catalyst materials that enhance both activity and durability. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between the catalyst structure and activity, implementing in situ/operando characterization techniques to monitor dynamic interfacial reactions and surface reconstruction processes. This facilitates a profound exploration of catalytic reaction mechanisms, offering insights into the catalyst's structural evolution during the electrocatalytic reaction. We construct a...

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Section: Multiscale Approach To Water Electrolysismentioning

confidence: 99%

From Atomic-Level Synthesis to Device-Scale Reactors: A Multiscale Approach to Water Electrolysis

Du,

Qi,

Wang

2024

Acc. Chem. Res.

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“…Among different types of candidates, such as transition metals, MOFs, COFs, polymers, and so on, transition metals have been preferred due to their different crystal phases, active centers, and tunable morphologies. − In light of the above, copper has piqued our interest due to its viable oxidation states, reliable electron transmission, stability in the alkaline environment, ease in synthesis, and is highly abundant. In contrast to iron group metals, like Ni, Fe, and Co, Cu exhibits great electrical and thermal conductivity as well as a substantial resiliency to corrosion. − Moreover, Cu is added to increase the catalytic activity by transferring electrons from Cu to other noble metals by reducing the d-band center of noble metals and weakening the adsorption energy. , Recently, Chen et al quantitatively studied the MOF-wrapped palladium nanocubes through XANES and observed the charge transfer from the Pd 4d bands to the Cu 3d (4sp)–O 2p hybridization bands of HKUST-1 at the Pd/HKUST-1 interface. Yu et al synthesized Cu nanowires with NiFe-layered double hydroxide nanosheets and studies the overall water splitting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Potential of Copper Palladium Nanocube Electrocatalysts for Enhancing the Overall Water Splitting Performance

Honnappa,

Shenoy

et al. 2024

Energy Fuels

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A viable method of sourcing clean, sustainable fuels that can address energy constraints and sustainability issues has been identified as the engineering of affordable and structured electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution processes. The current research work is engineering of a CuPd nanocube coated on nickel foam as an electrocatalyst utilized for bifunctional applications. The overpotentials of 131 and 330 mV vs RHE was attained for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 . It was crucial to observe that the catalyst could reduce the overpotential by 63.5% with bare for HER and by 31% with bare for the OER. In the realm of catalysis, where originality and refinement converge, the nanocube morphology stands as evidence to the boundless possibilities of materials design. The designed electrocatalyst exhibits efficient activity and notable durability up to 50 h in the given potential range in an exceptionally caustic alkaline environment. The finding serves as an enticing method to amend the catalyst surface structure and enhance its catalytic capabilities.

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“…In particular, micro-/nanostructured surface electrodes have gained tremendous attention in electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions. 20,21,25,26 On one hand, bubbles on the superwetting micro-/nanostructured electrodes exhibit very low apparent contact angles and adhesive forces, 27−29 thereby reducing bubble departure sizes and increasing bubble departure frequencies. Moreover, the micro-/nanostructured electrodes have the wickability to propagate the electrolyte into their structures, thus forming a wicking flow under the bubble.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The active methods employ external forces or fields such as flow fields, magnetic fields, and acoustic fields to promote the early departure of bubbles. Conversely, the passive methods rely on electrode surface engineering − and electrolyte composition modification to manipulate bubble dynamics. In particular, micro-/nanostructured surface electrodes have gained tremendous attention in electrocatalytic gas evolution reactions. ,,, On one hand, bubbles on the superwetting micro-/nanostructured electrodes exhibit very low apparent contact angles and adhesive forces, − thereby reducing bubble departure sizes and increasing bubble departure frequencies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roles of Wettability and Wickability on Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Zhao,

Gong,

Zhang

et al. 2024

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Bubble dynamics significantly impact mass transfer and energy conversion in electrochemical gas evolution reactions. Micro-/nanostructured surfaces with extreme wettability have been employed as gas-evolving electrodes to promote bubble departure and decrease the bubble-induced overpotential. However, effects of the electrodes’ wickability on the electrochemical reaction performances remain elusive. In this work, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performances are experimentally investigated using micropillar array electrodes with varying interpillar spacings, and effects of the electrodes’ wettability, wickability as well as bubble adhesion are discussed. A deep learning-based object detection model was used to obtain bubble counts and bubble departure size distributions. We show that microstructures on the electrode have little effect on the total bubble counts and bubble size distribution characteristics at low current densities. At high current densities, however, micropillar array electrodes have much higher total bubble counts and smaller bubble departure sizes compared with the flat electrode. We also demonstrate that surface wettability is a critical factor influencing HER performances under low current densities, where bubbles exist in an isolated regime. Under high current densities, where bubbles are in an interacting regime, the wickability of the micropillar array electrodes emerges as a determining factor. This work elucidates the roles of surface wettability and wickability on enhancing electrochemical performances, providing guidelines for the optimal design of micro-/nanostructured electrodes in various gas evolution reactions.

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Bubble Engineering on Micro-/Nanostructured Electrodes for Water Splitting

Cited by 49 publications

References 118 publications

From Atomic-Level Synthesis to Device-Scale Reactors: A Multiscale Approach to Water Electrolysis

From Atomic-Level Synthesis to Device-Scale Reactors: A Multiscale Approach to Water Electrolysis

Exploring the Potential of Copper Palladium Nanocube Electrocatalysts for Enhancing the Overall Water Splitting Performance

Roles of Wettability and Wickability on Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

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