Novel (Ni, Fe)S2/(Ni, Fe)3S4 solid solution hybrid: an efficient electrocatalyst with robust oxygen-evolving performance

Molybdenum and Sulfur Doping To Create Active Sites and Regulate d-Band Centers of Ni-Mo-S Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Defining the active sites and further optimizing their activity are of great significance for enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performances, especially for inexpensive Ni-based catalysts doped with metals and nonmetal elements. This work reports the role of the incorporated molybdenum and sulfur in enhancing the HER activity of nickel. The prepared molybdenum and sulfur coincorporated Ni (NMS) electrocatalysts exhibit excellent HER performance, with an overpotential and Tafel slope of 77.0 mV (10 mA·cm-2) and 64.4 mV·dec-1, respectively, because of the large electrochemically active surface area, quick reaction kinetics, and charge-transfer capability. The theoretical calculation results reveal that the incorporated Mo atoms play the role of reaction sites, and the introduced S atoms can further enhance the activity of Mo atom. The high HER activity of the Mo atom can be attributed to the regulated d-band center by optimizing the composition of NMS, which tunes the interaction between Mo and intermediate species. The elucidated mechanism can make it possible to design Ni-based electrocatalysts doped with metals and nonmetals for efficient hydrogen evolution.

Durable Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni-Fe-S Nanosheets Supported on a Ni-S Three Dimensional Pattern as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution and Urea Oxidation Reactions

This study aims to establish easy-to-fabricate and novel structures for the synthesis of highly active and enduring electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Gradient electrodeposition and four different time regimes were utilized to synthesize Ni-S 3D patterns with the optimization of electrodeposition time. Pulse electrodeposition was employed for the synthesis of Ni-Fe-S nanosheets at three different frequencies and duty cycles to optimize the pulse electrodeposition parameters. The sample synthesized at 13 min of gradient electrodeposition with a 1 Hz frequency and 0.7 duty cycle for pulse electrodeposition demonstrated the best electrocatalytic performance. The optimized electrode further showed remarkable performance for HER and UOR reactions, requiring only 54 mV and 1.25 V to deliver 10 mA cm-2 for HER and UOR, respectively. Moreover, the overall cell voltage of the two-electrode system in 1 M KOH and 0.5 M urea was measured at 1.313 V, delivering 10 mA cm-2. Constructing Ni-Fe-S nanosheets on 3D Ni-S significantly increased the electrochemical surface area from 51 to 278 for the Ni-S and Ni-Fe-S layers. Tafel slopes were measured as 138 and 182 mV dec-1 for the HER and UOR for the Ni-S coating layer and 97 mV dec-1 for the HER and 131 mV dec-1 for the UOR for the optimal Ni-Fe-S nanosheets on Ni-S. Minimal changes in the potential were observed at 100 mA cm-2 in 50 h regarding the HER and UOR, signifying exceptional electrocatalytic stability. This study provides economically viable, highly active, and long-lasting electrocatalysts suitable for HER and UOR applications.

Unique amorphous/crystalline heterophase coupling for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Designing amorphous/crystalline heterophase catalysts is still in the initial stage, and the study of amorphous/crystalline heterophase and carbon-free catalysts has not yet been realized. Herein, we report a unique amorphous/crystalline heterophase catalyst consisting of NiFe alloy nanoparticles (NPs) supported on Ti₄O₇ (NiFe/Ti₄O₇) for the first time, which is achieved by a heterophase supporting strategy of dual heat treatment. Surprisingly, the amorphous/crystalline heterophase is flexibly composed of amorphous and crystalline phases of alloy NPs and Ti₄O₇. The heterophase coupling endows the catalyst with a low overpotential (256 mV at 10 mA cm^-2), a small Tafel slope (47 mV dec^-1) and excellent endurance stability (over 100 h) in 1 M KOH electrolyte, which already outperforms commercial RuO₂ (338 mV and 113 mV dec^-1) and exceeds most reported representative carbon-based and titanium-based non-precious metal catalysts. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental results reveal that the unique amorphous/crystalline heterophase coupling in NiFe/Ti₄O₇ results in electron transfer between the alloy NPs and Ti₄O₇, allowing more catalytically active sites and faster interfacial electron transfer dynamics. This work provides insights into the synthesis of amorphous/crystalline heterophase catalysts and can be generalized to the heterophase coupling of other transition metal-based electrocatalysts.

Fe doped NiS nanosheet arrays grown on carbon fiber paper for a highly efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction

Developing efficient and low-cost non-noble metal catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is important for hydrogen production through water electrolysis. Herein, Fe doped NiS nanosheets directly grown on conductive carbon fiber paper (Fe-NiS@CFP) were fabricated through a two-step hydrothermal process. The microstructure, interface and electronic states of the prepared sample were modulated by Fe doping, exhibiting small internal and interface charge-transfer resistance. Benefiting from these factors, Fe-NiS@CFP shows superior electrocatalytic performance with an overpotential of 275 mV at 100 mA cm^-2 and maintains the activity for at least 50 h as a working electrode for the OER. This work may provide insights into the design and fabrication of non-noble metal sulfide electrocatalysts.

In situ construction of self-supporting Ni–Fe sulfide for high-efficiency oxygen evolution

2D nanosheet arrays comprising the self-supporting (Fe,Ni)3S4 composite not only exhibit excellent OER activity but also superior reaction stability due to the combined effect of mesopore-containing 2D nanosheets and the binary metal species.

Lanthanum-incorporated β-Ni(OH)2 nanoarrays for robust urea electro-oxidation

Lanthanum-incorporated β-Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets display superior catalytic behavior and stability for urea electro-oxidation, which originates from the optimized electronic structure, the downshift of the d-band center and the increased number of exposed active sites.