Nanoscale hetero-interfaces between metals and metal compounds for electrocatalytic applications

Abstract

This article reviews recent advances in the synthetic strategies for metal/metal compound hetero-interfaces within a nanostructure and their beneficial synergistic effect on the electrocatalytic performance toward energy conversion applications such as the HER, OER and ORR.

Ultrathin Ni(0)‐Embedded Ni(OH)2 Heterostructured Nanosheets with Enhanced Electrochemical Overall Water Splitting

“…Construction of well‐defined heterostructured 2D materials is expected to be an effective way to prepare multifunctional catalysts, since heterostructured materials have exhibited unique physicochemical properties . Specifically, in the electrochemical energy conversion reaction, the heterostructures can tune the electronic structure of the catalyst and change the adsorption and desorption energies of intermediate on the catalyst surface during the catalytic process, leading to high catalytic performance . For example, both MoS 2 /Ni 3 S 2 and MoS 2 /Co 9 S 8 /Ni 3 S 2 heterostructured nanomaterials show enhanced catalytic performance in overall water splitting as compared to the Ni 3 S 2 catalyst .…”

“…[11,[35][36][37][38] Specifically, in the electrochemical energy conversion reaction, the heterostructures can tune the electronic structure of the catalyst and change the adsorption and desorption energies of intermediate on the catalyst surface during the catalytic process, leading to high catalytic performance. [39] For example, both MoS 2 /Ni 3 S 2 and MoS 2 /Co 9 S 8 /Ni 3 S 2 heterostructured nanomaterials show enhanced catalytic performance in overall water splitting as compared to the Ni 3 S 2 catalyst. [24,[40][41][42] Moreover, the ultrathin 2D feature allows high-density active sites to be exposed on the surface of catalyst to enhance the catalytic activity.…”

“…The change in the overall binding energy of Ni in the Ni/Ni(OH) 2 www.advmat.de www.advancedsciencenews.com nanosheets indicates that metallic Ni and Ni(II) coexist in the nanosheets, which can enhance the electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst. [39,[45][46][47][48] As a proof-of-concept application, the synthesized Ni/ Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets were first used for HER. The Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets, Ni nanosheets and Pt/C ( Figure S10, Supporting Information) were used as the control catalysts.…”

Recent Progress in Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Overall Water Splitting under Acidic Conditions

“…Furthermore, a few examples in the section 3.2 such as the encapsulation of protecting carbon layers on the catalytic materials and heterogeneous atoms doping on carbon electrode demonstrate the possibility of widening the limited material choices to the economical noble‐metal free catalysts for overall water splitting in acidic condition . Although the metal‐free materials show rather poor catalytic performances, the combination of these materials with the metal‐based catalysts leading to heterostructures is intriguing to explore because there is increasing number of catalysis studies for promising heterophase catalysts demonstrating ensemble effects for catalytic synergy . Finally, we hope that this review can boost the intensive developments for the bifunctional catalysts toward water electrolysis in an acidic condition.…”

Controlling Metallic Nanoparticle Redox Properties for Improved Methanol Oxidation Reaction Electrocatalysis

“…The presence of a metallic hetero‐interface in core‐shell nanoparticles can affect the surface properties by: electronic effects, affecting the electron density in the metal bonding orbitals and strain effects from mismatch between the two crystal lattices, causing lattice expansion or contraction . Au can have both effects on the Pd surface as Au crystal lattice is 4.6 % larger and also 0.35 Pauling units more electronegative than Pd (Table S2).…”