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Kharabe GP, Barik S, Veeranmaril SK, Nair A, Illathvalappil R, Yoyakki A, Joshi K, Vinod CP, Kurungot S. Aluminium, Nitrogen-Dual-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Co-Existing with Cobalt-Encapsulated Graphitic Carbon Nanotube as an Activity Modulated Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Electrochemistry Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2400012. [PMID: 38651508 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
There is a rising need to create high-performing, affordable electrocatalysts in the new field of oxygen electrochemistry. Here, a cost-effective, activity-modulated electrocatalyst with the capacity to trigger both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline environment is presented. The catalyst (Al, Co/N-rGCNT) is made up of aluminium, nitrogen-dual-doped reduced graphene oxide sheets co-existing with cobalt-encapsulated carbon nanotube units. Based on X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) studies, it is established that the superior reaction kinetics in Al, Co/N-rGCNT over their bulk counterparts can be attributed to their electronic regulation. The Al, Co/N-rGCNT performs as a versatile bifunctional electrocatalyst for zinc-air battery (ZAB), delivering an open circuit potential ≈1.35 V and peak power density of 106.3 mW cm-2, which are comparable to the system based on Pt/C. The Al, Co/N-rGCNT-based system showed a specific capacity of 737 mAh gZn -1 compared to 696 mAh gZn -1 delivered by the system based on Pt/C. The DFT calculations indicate that the adsorption of Co in the presence of Al doping in NGr improves the electronic properties favoring ORR. Thus, the Al, Co/N-rGCNT-based rechargeable ZAB (RZAB) emerges as a highly viable and affordable option for the development of RZAB for practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geeta Pandurang Kharabe
- Physical & Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sidharth Barik
- Physical & Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sudheesh Kumar Veeranmaril
- Physical Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE), KAUST Catalysis Centre (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aathira Nair
- Physical & Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Rajith Illathvalappil
- Physical & Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Athira Yoyakki
- Physical & Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Kavita Joshi
- Physical & Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Chathakudath Prabhakaran Vinod
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
- Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
| | - Sreekumar Kurungot
- Physical & Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
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Ren JT, Chen L, Wang HY, Tian W, Wang L, Sun M, Feng Y, Zhai SX, Yuan ZY. Self-Powered Hydrogen Production with Improved Energy Efficiency via Polysulfides Redox. ACS NANO 2023; 17:25707-25720. [PMID: 38047808 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In the pursuit of efficient solar-driven electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production, the intrinsic challenges posed by the sluggish kinetics of anodic oxygen evolution and intermittent sunlight have prompted the need for innovative energy systems. Here, we introduce an approach by coupling the polysulfides oxidation reaction with the hydrogen evolution reaction for energy-saving H2 production, which could be powered by an aqueous zinc-polysulfides battery to construct a self-powered energy system. This unusual hybrid water electrolyzer achieves 300 mA cm-2 at a low cell voltage of 1.14 V, saving electricity consumption by 100.4% from 5.47 to 2.73 kWh per m3 H2 compared to traditional overall water splitting. Benefiting from the favorable reaction kinetics of polysulfides oxidation/reduction, the aqueous zinc-polysulfides battery exhibits an energy efficiency of approximately 89% at 1.0 mA cm-2. Specially, the zinc-polysulfide battery effectively stores intermittent solar energy as chemical energy during light reaction by solar cells. Under an unassisted light reaction, the batteries could release energy to drive H2 production through a hybrid water electrolyzer for uninterrupted hydrogen production. Therefore, the aim of simultaneously generating H2 and eliminating the restrictions of intermittent sunlight is realized by combining the merits of polysulfides redox, an aqueous metal-polysulfide battery, and solar cells. We believe that this concept and utilization of polysulfides redox will inspire further fascinating attempts for the development of sustainable energy via electrocatalytic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Tao Ren
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao-Yu Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwen Tian
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Minglei Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Xiang Zhai
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong-Yong Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
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Zhou F, Sun C. Nitrate-to-Ammonia Conversion on Ru/Ni Hydroxide Hybrid through Zinc-Nitrate Fuel Cell. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2200436. [PMID: 35491392 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202200436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The fuel cell is a basic device to generate electricity from chemical fuels. It is often operated with oxygen as the oxidizing agent, but its sluggish reduction has become a key challenge. Herein, a conceptual oxygen-free design is demonstrated, namely a zinc-nitrate fuel cell, which converts nitrate waste into valuable ammonia and generates electricity simultaneously. The cell is constructed with zinc foil as the anode and ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles loaded on nickel foam as the cathode. Catalyzed by Ru/Ni hydroxide hybrid, the reaction rate of 384 mmol h-1 mgRu-1 (1.4 × 10-6 ± 0.1 × 10-6 mol s-1 cm-2 ) and Faradic efficiency (FENH3 = 97% ± 2%) at -0.6 V versus reverse hydrogen electrode are achieved for nitrate-to-ammonia conversion. During ammonia production, such zinc-nitrate fuel cell can further deliver a maximum power density of 51.5 mW cm-2 (0.25 cm2 electrode) and 23.3 mW cm-2 (1 cm2 electrode), keeping ultrahigh Faradic efficiency (97% ± 4% at 40 mA cm-2 ) after long tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengling Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Distributed Energy Systems, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Chenghua Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology and Centre for Translational Atomaterials, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia
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