Shining Light on Anion-Mixed Nanocatalysts for Efficient Water Electrolysis: Fundamentals, Progress, and Perspectives

Abstract

Highlights This review introduces recent advances of various anion-mixed transition metal compounds (e.g., nitrides, halides, phosphides, chalcogenides, (oxy)hydroxides, and borides) for efficient water electrolysis applications in detail. The challenges and future perspectives are proposed and analyzed for the anion-mixed water dissociation catalysts, including polyanion-mixed and metal-free catalyst, progressive synthesis strategies, advanced in situ characterizations, and atomic level structure–activity relationship. Abstract Hydrogen with high energy density and zero carbon emission is widely acknowledged as the most promising candidate toward world's carbon neutrality and future sustainable eco-society. Water-splitting is a constructive technology for unpolluted and high-purity H2 production, and a series of non-precious electrocatalysts have been developed over the past decade. To further improve the catalytic activities, metal doping is always adopted to modulate the 3d-electronic configuration and electron-donating/accepting (e-DA) properties, while for anion doping, the electronegativity variations among different non-metal elements would also bring some potential in the modulations of e-DA and metal valence for tuning the performances. In this review, we summarize the recent developments of the many different anion-mixed transition metal compounds (e.g., nitrides, halides, phosphides, chalcogenides, oxyhydroxides, and borides/borates) for efficient water electrolysis applications. First, we have introduced the general information of water-splitting and the description of anion-mixed electrocatalysts and highlighted their complementary functions of mixed anions. Furthermore, some latest advances of anion-mixed compounds are also categorized for hydrogen and oxygen evolution electrocatalysis. The rationales behind their enhanced electrochemical performances are discussed. Last but not least, the challenges and future perspectives are briefly proposed for the anion-mixed water dissociation catalysts.

Synergizing Hydrogen Spillover and Deprotonation by the Internal Polarization Field in a MoS2/NiPS3 Vertical Heterostructure for Boosted Water Electrolysis

“…Meanwhile, in the polyanionic NiPS 3 basal plane, the electronegativity of S atom in a typical [P 2 S 6 ] 4− cluster is higher than P atom, and hence the electrons gather around the S atoms (Figure S5, Supporting Information). [ 16 ] Figure 1f,g further presents the electronic potentials of NiPS 3 base plane in the MoS 2 /NiPS 3 structure, clearly demonstrating the more negative local potential of S atoms than P atoms. The uneven potential energy surface leads to the formation of another IPF from P to S in the NiPS 3 basal plane.…”

Interface‐Adaptive Binder Enabled by Supramolecular Interactions for High‐Capacity Si/C Composite Anodes in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…The rise of renewable and clean energy sources has placed greater demands on energy storage technology. [1][2][3][4] The development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with sustainable, inexpensive, and high energy density is considered a most talented strategy to meet the demand of practical applications such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, and electric grids. [5][6][7] However, the energy and power performance of current LIBs anode is gradually approaching the theoretical limit that drives the rapid growth of high-specific-capacity Si-based anodes.…”

Superlative photoelectrochemical properties of 3D MgCr-LDH nanoparticles influencing towards photoinduced water splitting reactions

“…Since from the foremost invention of PEC water splitting on TiO 2 photoelectrode by Fujishima and Honda 11 , diverse low-cost, abundant and renewable photocatalytic materials such as Bi 2 WO 6 12 , 13 , g-C 3 N 4 14 – 18 , CdS 19 , 20 , MoS 2 21 , 22 , graphene 22 – 24 , MXene 25 – 27 , graphdiyne 28 , etc., have been developed for their sustainability, suitability and efficiency for water splitting reactions. In addition, recently CoWO 4 nanocubes 29 , CuWO 4 nanoparticles (NP) 30 , α-Fe 2 O 3 @g-C 3 N 4 31 , Ni/MoO 2 @N-doped-carbon 32 , NiMoO 4 -nanorods@rGO 33 , and CuWO 4 @rGO 34 , electrode materials have been developed, which could be regarded as highly effective in water electrolysis reaction 35 .…”