Emergence of Ni‐Based Chalcogenides (S and Se) for Clean Energy Conversion and Storage

Abstract

Nickel chalcogenide (S and Se) based nanostructures intrigued scientists for some time as materials for energy conversion and storage systems. Interest in these materials is due to their good electrochemical stability, eco‐friendly nature, and low cost. The present review compiles recent progress in the area of nickel‐(S and Se)‐based materials by providing a comprehensive summary of their structural and chemical features and performance. Improving properties of the materials, such as electrical conductivity and surface characteristics (surface area and morphology), through strategies like nano‐structuring and hybridization, are systematically discussed. The interaction of the materials with electrolytes, other electro‐active materials, and inactive components are analyzed to understand their effects on the performance of energy conversion and storage devices. Finally, outstanding challenges and possible solutions are briefly presented with some perspectives toward the future development of these materials for energy‐oriented devices with high performance.

Water electrolysis: from textbook knowledge to the latest scientific strategies and industrial developments

“…Many review articles summarise results on chalcogenides as promising water electrolysis electrode materials, 926,1120–1126,1330 Many transition metal chalcogenides naturally occur in Earth's crust, MoS 2 exists as the mineral molybdenite. 1127 Many properties are certainly worth mentioning, but with a potential use as a catalyst in particular, a specialty of the metal chalcogenides seems superficially interesting: The properties of the transition metal chalcogenides in their bulk states can significantly differ from their nanoscale counterparts, which spurred the efforts of scientists to synthesise e.g.…”

Heterointerfaces of nickel sulphides and selenides on Ni-foam as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts in acidic environments

“…Moreover, sulphur- and selenium-based compounds are said to deliver the best catalytic efficiency owing to their low resistivity, small bandgap and higher degree of covalency in the metal–anion bonds. 23 Nickel sulphides (NiS, NiS 2 and Ni 3 S 2 ) have been widely considered as OER electrocatalysts, but their HER performance is not up to the mark. For this reason, nickel sulphides as a single system cannot exhibit bifunctional activity.…”

Hierarchical nickel–cobalt sulfide/niobium pentoxide decorated green carbon spheres toward efficient energy storage

“…4 Moreover, from the synergistic effect view, binary metal suldes, which can provide more active sites and oxidation states, are favorable for highly efficient energy storage devices. 1,4,19 Having the merit of broad operating potential, ASCs composed of two different positive and negative electrodes can deliver higher energy densities when compared to their symmetric counterparts. [20][21][22] Carbon-based materials have been predominantly used as negative electrodes of SCs due to their broad potential window, good conductivity, and high stability.…”

“…4 Moreover, from the synergistic effect view, binary metal sulfides, which can provide more active sites and oxidation states, are favorable for highly efficient energy storage devices. 1,4,19…”