The Hydric Effect in Inorganic Nanomaterials for Nanoelectronics and Energy Applications

Abstract

Protons, as one of the world's smallest ions, are able to trigger the charge effect without obvious lattice expansion inside inorganic materials, offering a unique and important test-bed for controlling their diverse functionalities. Arising from the high chemical reactivity of hydrogen (easily losing an electron) with various main group anions (easily accepting a proton), the hydric effect provides a convenient and environmentally benign route to bring about fascinating new physicochemical properties, as well as to create new inorganic structures based on the "old lattice" without dramatically destroying the pristine structure, covering most inorganic materials. Moreover, hydrogen atoms tend to bond with anions or to produce intrinsic defects, both of which are expected to inject extra electrons into lattice framework, promising advances in control of bandgap, spin behavior, and carrier concentration, which determine functionality for wide applications. In this review article, recently developed effective hydric strategies are highlighted, which include the conventional hydric reaction under high temperature or room temperature, proton irradiation or hydrogen plasma treatment, and gate-electrolyte-driven adsorption or doping. The diverse physicochemical properties brought by the hydric effect via modulation of the intrinsic electronic structure are also summarized, finding wide applications in nanoelectronics, energy applications, and catalysis.

Self-supported CoMoS4 nanosheet array as an efficient catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction at neutral pH

“…It has been demonstrated that Co acts as an effective promoter to enhance the catalytic activity of MoS x [17]; however, such CoMoS x catalyst film electrodeposited on a planar electrode still requires an overpotential of 200 mV to drive 1.04 mA•cm -2 . Recent studies have demonstrated that the direct nanoarray growth of an active phase on a current collector provides distinct advantages, including higher electrode stability, lower series resistance, exposure of more active sites, and easier electrolyte and gas diffusion [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. Thus, although it has not been reported to date, the development of a CoMoS x nanoarray as a three-dimensional (3D) catalyst electrode is highly attractive for achieving high-efficiency hydrogen evolution catalysis.…”

Design of Efficient Bifunctional Oxygen Reduction/Evolution Electrocatalyst: Recent Advances and Perspectives

“…Moreover, surface OVs can enhance the electron transfer from O-vacancies to metal d band to further effectively tune the adsorption of surface species for catalysis. [40][41][42] For example, Chen et al investigated the influence of OVs on the oxygen electrocatalysis of rutile-type β-MnO 2 by introducing intrinsic OVs without modification by foreign additives. [42] They found that OVs-containing oxide demonstrates a more positive potential, larger current and lower peroxide production for ORR catalysis, and also promotes OER catalysis.…”

Intrinsic Defects and H Doping in WO3

“…H, due to its small size, is able to migrate in many inorganic compounds and can occupy interstitial sites without large structural expansion. It is able to induce intrinsic defects that provide free electrons1213, modify the band gap14, interact with O vacancies1516, and induce insulator-to-conductor transitions17. Despite much progress, H doping therefore remains a challenge to metal oxide semiconductors.…”