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Liu Z, Du Y, Yu R, Zheng M, Hu R, Wu J, Xia Y, Zhuang Z, Wang D. Tuning Mass Transport in Electrocatalysis Down to Sub-5 nm through Nanoscale Grade Separation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202212653. [PMID: 36399050 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202212653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Nano and single-atom catalysis open new possibilities of producing green hydrogen (H2 ) by water electrolysis. However, for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) which occurs at a characteristic reaction rate proportional to the potential, the fast generation of H2 nanobubbles at atomic-scale interfaces often leads to the blockage of active sites. Herein, a nanoscale grade-separation strategy is proposed to tackle mass-transport problem by utilizing ordered three-dimensional (3d) interconnected sub-5 nm pores. The results reveal that 3d criss-crossing mesopores with grade separation allow efficient diffusion of H2 bubbles along the interconnected channels. After the support of ultrafine ruthenium (Ru), the 3d mesopores are on a superior level to two-dimensional system at maximizing the catalyst performance and the obtained Ru catalyst outperforms most of the other HER catalysts. This work provides a potential route to fine-tuning few-nanometer mass transport during water electrolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhui Liu
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, P. R. China
| | - Yue Du
- Institute for Advanced Materials, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, 435002, P. R. China
| | - Ruohan Yu
- Wuhan University of Technology, Nanostructure Research Centre, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Mingbo Zheng
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, P. R. China
| | - Rui Hu
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, P. R. China
| | - Jingsong Wu
- Wuhan University of Technology, Nanostructure Research Centre, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Yongyao Xia
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, P. R. China.,Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
| | - Zechao Zhuang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Dingsheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China
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