Self-Supported Ni/NiSP_x Microdendrite Structure for Highly Efficient and Stable Overall Water Splitting in Simulated Industrial Environment

Abstract

The design and development of non-noble metal-based bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen production from catalytic electrolysis of water in industrial environments is very important for the application of hydrogen energy in commercial fields. Here, we report the use of a simple one-step electrodeposition method to prepare amorphous NiSP x microdendritic structure catalytic electrodes with small amount of Ni on nickel foam. The optimal electrocatalyst Ni/NiSP x requires only low overpotentials of 46 and 231 mV for HER and OER at the current density of 10 mA·cm–2, respectively. Even at the commercially practical current density of 1000 mA·cm–2 in simulated industrial environment, it only demands a voltage of 2.38 V and offers remarkable stability for more than 30 h, providing great potential for large-scale applications. Such excellent performance should be attributed to the doping of P or S which optimizes the electronic structure of the Ni active sites, and the unique microdendritic structure exposes more catalytic active sites. This work may open up a new way for the design and preparation of earth-abundant, low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts with high efficiency and stability in an industrial environment, which is of great significance for the practical application of electrolytic water hydrogen production technology in commercial fields.

Bifunctional Heterostructured Transition Metal Phosphides for Efficient Electrochemical Water Splitting

“…Tafel slope [mV dec −1 ] Catalyst loading [mg cm −2 ] [194] Tafel slope with V m for most cases. The small differences observed for some cases can be attributed to the experimental error, data processing (iR compensation) and so on.…”

Progress and Perspective of Metallic Glasses for Energy Conversion and Storage

“…Extensive investigation has been conducted to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of non-metal based catalysts. [109] For instance, previous research shows that the introduction of P, B non-metallic elements into MG is beneficial to improve OER activity. [110] MGs with special electronic structure and large range of adjustable composition have great potential in the catalytic application for OER.…”

Electrodeposition: Synthesis of advanced transition metal-based catalyst for hydrogen production via electrolysis of water

“…Although many benefits can be found in one-step electrodeposition techniques, it has to be admitted that insufficient phospho- [212]. Reproducted from ref.…”

“…Reproducted from ref. [212] with permission from American Chemical Society. (b) Schematic illustration of synthesis of the Ni(OH) 2 /Ni 3 S 2 nanoforest by one-step electrodeposition, the right is SEM and TEM images with clear heterojunction [216].…”

“…The two-step deposition technique made it possible for multi-element coordination and heterogeneous structure, and further analysis pointed out that endowed the film both higher active area and higher atomic ratio for B and P, thus elecated the HER activity. Chen et al [212] reported an amorphous NiSP x microdendritic structure catalyst by one-step electrodeposition (Fig. 11a).…”