Structure‐Tailored Non‐Noble Metal‐based Ternary Chalcogenide Nanocrystals for Pt‐like Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Abstract

A facile microwave‐assisted strategy was employed to synthesize Ni3Bi2S2 nanocrystals. Variation in the synthesis conditions tuned the composition of monoclinic and orthorhombic phases of Ni3Bi2S2. The electrochemical hydrogen evolution activity of the catalyst with highest percentage of monoclinic phase demonstrated a negligible onset potential of only 24 mV close to that of state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C with an overpotential as low as 88 mV. Density functional theory calculations predicted the monoclinic phase exhibit the lowest adsorption free energy corresponding to hydrogen adsorption (ΔGadsH*) and, therefore, the highest hydrogen evolution activity amongst the considered phases. The quasi‐2D structure of monoclinic phase facilitated an increased charge‐transfer between Ni and Bi, favoring the downward shift of the d‐band center to enhance the catalytic activity.

The Pivotal Role of s‐, p‐, and f‐Block Metals in Water Electrolysis: Status Quo and Perspectives

“…Recently, Peter and co‐workers synthesized the novel ternary Ni 3 Bi 2 S 2 phase with monoclinic structure, which bears much better hydrogen adsorption and desorption ability than that of NiS owing to the localized charge‐transfer between Ni and Bi, which facilitates the downward shift of the d‐band center, thereby improving the catalytic activity. [ 219 ] All of the results mentioned above verify the crucial role of lean metals in improving both HER and OER activity.…”

“…Among these lean metals, those referred to Al, Ga, Sn, and Bi are usually utilized for the OER and HER catalysis, and they improve the OER and HER activity in terms of the following aspects. [ 103,105,206–231 ] i) These lean metals can be readily etched in both the alkaline and acidic solutions, generating beneficial results including the formation of pores and partial phase reconstruction. ii) They can be prone to hybrid with other metals to form the (ordered) intermetallics with high conductivity.…”

“…[105] Importantly, many reported lean metal-tuned HER catalysts do not show any leaching under electrocatalytic conditions because their structures are remarkably stable. [218][219][220] The main aim of lean metal-doping for HER is to enhance the intrinsic electrical conductivity, lattice distortion, and defects. By a combined experimental and theoretical investigation, Liu and co-workers revealed that when the metal-stable Sn 0.3 W 0.7 S 2 was formed based on WS 2 , the crystal structure was converted from trigonal prismatic (2H phase) to distorted octahedral (1T′ phase) (Figure 8H).…”

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

“…To date many transition sulphides, selenides and some tellurides exhibited competitive HER: MoS 2 , 1138–1140 MoS 3 , 1141 MoSe 2 , 1142 CoS, 1143 Co 9 S 8 1144 CoSe 2 , 1145 Co 7 Se 8 , 1146 NiMo 3 S 4 , 1147 CoSe 2 -SnSe 2 , 1148 NiS 2 , 1149 Ni 3 S 2 , 1149 Ni 3 Se 2 , 1150 NiS, NiSe, 1151 NiS 0.5 Se 0.5 , 1152 Ni 3 S 2 -CdS, 1153 MoS 2 in Cu 2 S matrix, 1154 FeS, 1155 FeS 2 , 1156,1157 FeSe, 1158 Co doped FeSe 2 1159 Ni 3 Bi 2 S 2 , 1160 Bi 2 Te 3 , 1161 MX 2 (M = V, Nb, and Ta; X = S, Se, and Te), 1162 TaS 2 , 1163 CoTe 2 , 1164 NiTe 2 , 1164 MoTe 2 , 1165 WS 2 , 1166 WSe 2 1167–1170 NiCo 2 S 4 , 1455 MoS 2 -CuS, 1171 CuS, 1172 Cu 2 Se, 1173 CoTe2-CdTe. 1174…”

Systematic Study of Effective Hydrothermal Synthesis to Fabricate Nb-Incorporated TiO2 for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…With regard to the materials, generally, Pt-based catalysts exhibit remarkable electrocatalytic activity for the ORR [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]; however, they suffer from disadvantages in terms of commercialization, such as high costs and long-term instability [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Therefore, alternative materials similar to Pt catalysts, including metal oxides [ 14 , 15 ], metal chalcogenides [ 16 ], and carbon materials [ 17 , 18 ], have been proposed.…”