Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Cathode Research Articles

Lamellar structured CoSe2 nanosheets directly arrayed on Ti plate as an efficient electrochemical catalyst for hydrogen evolution

Splitting water by electrochemical reactions is considered to be the most promising strategy to create hydrogen. Herein, an efficient hydrogen evolution cathode was developed by in-situ growth of lamellar structured cobalt diselenide (CoSe2) nanosheets on the surface of commercial titanium (Ti) plate (CoSe2NS@Ti) in the first time. Both SEM images and XRD data confirmed that the Ti plate is homogeneously coated by few stacking layers of lamellar structured CoSe2, which could provide more active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with the thickness about 20nm. This catalytic cathode shows exceptionally high activity for hydrogen evolution with 152mV overpotential to afford a current density of 10mAcm−2 and a high exchange current density of 5.01×10−3mAcm−2, as well as high cyclic stability with negligible decrease of cathodic current after 500 cycles. Remarkably, the CoSe2NS@Ti catalyst exhibits fast hydrogen evolution kinetics with Tafel slope of 38.5mV per decade, which approaches the state-of-art Pt catalyst (Pt/C) in 0.5M H2SO4. This CoSe2NS@Ti material is easily prepared with excellent electrocatalytic performance, thus could be a promising earth-abundant electrocatalyst for the HER and other renewable energy applications.

Self-catalyzed growth of Cu@graphdiyne core–shell nanowires array for high efficient hydrogen evolution cathode

Here we show that a high efficient hydrogen evolution reaction which was carried out on the in-situ growth of self-supported core-shell nanowires array consisting of graphdiyne as the shell and Cu as the core on Cu foams (Cu@GD NA/CF). Subject to potential cycling treatment in 0.5M H2SO4, the Cu@GD NA/CF exhibits highly catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction with an onset overpotential of 52mV and a Tafel slope of 69mVdec−1. Our findings suggest that synergetic interaction between GD and Cu is crucial for the catalytic performance of the electrode. This electrode needs only overpotentials of 79 and 162mV to achieve catalytic current densities of 10 and 100mAcm–2, respectively, and maintains its catalytic activity for almost 20h. The attractive performances of such array make it promising candidate as a future high-performance catalyst for applications. SummaryThe first GD based 3D carbon nanoarchitectures with well-defined porous network structures working as a highly active hydrogen evolution cathode is developed. Its excellent electrocatalytic activities, combined with low-cost, convenient and scale-up preparation process, make it promising candidate for practical and efficient energy applications.

Electrodeposited synthesis of self-supported Ni-P cathode for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen generation

One of the key challenges for electrochemical water splitting is the development of low-cost and efficient hydrogen evolution cathode. In this work, a self-supported Ni-P cathode was synthesized by a facile electrodeposition method. The composition and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The Ni-P cathode performed low onset over-potential, good catalytic activity and long-term stability under neutral and alkaline conditions. The mechanism of Ni-P electrode for hydrogen production was discussed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The excellent performance of Ni-P cathode was mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of phosphate anions and the self-supported feature.

Self-supported tungsten/tungsten dioxide nanowires array as an efficient electrocatalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction

A tungsten/tungsten dioxide nanowires array was constructed on a carbon paper through the thermal annealing of tungsten trioxide, and was proven to be an efficient hydrogen evolution cathode with strong durability in acidic solutions.

Tungsten nitride nanorods array grown on carbon cloth as an efficient hydrogen evolution cathode at all pH values

It is highly desired but still remains a challenging task to develop efficient non-noble-metal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts operating efficiently under all pH conditions. In this paper, tungsten nitride nanorods array was developed on carbon cloth (WN NA/CC) through nitridation of corresponding WO3 NA/CC precursor with NH3 as an efficient 3D hydrogen evolution cathode with strong durability in acidic solutions. It needs overpotential of 198mV to achieve current density of 10mAcm−2 and it maintains its catalytic activity for at least 60h. This electrode also performs well under both neutral and alkaline conditions. In addition, this electrode shows nearly 100% Faradaic efficiency at all pH values.

Ni2P nanoparticle films supported on a Ti plate as an efficient hydrogen evolution cathode.

In this communication, we report a two-step strategy for low-temperature construction of Ni2P nanoparticle films supported on a Ti plate (Ni2P/Ti). When used as an integrated hydrogen evolution cathode, the Ni2P/Ti electrode exhibits remarkable catalytic activity, superior stability and nearly 100% Faradaic efficiency in acidic solutions, and it needs overpotentials of 138 and 188 mV to afford current densities of 20 and 100 mA cm(-2), respectively.

Controlled synthesis of FeP nanorod arrays as highly efficient hydrogen evolution cathode

For the first time, self-supported FeP nanorod arrays were developed on a HCl-treated Ti foil (FeP NAs/Ti) via low-temperature phosphidation of α-FeO(OH)/Ti precursor and were further used as a novel hydrogen evolution cathode (HER), demonstrating exceptional catalytic activity in acidic media, superior to all reported non-Pt HER electrocatalysts, while offering an innovative method to synthesize metal phosphides with well-controlled nanostructure and morphology.

Three-dimensional interconnected network of nanoporous CoP nanowires as an efficient hydrogen evolution cathode.

For the first time we demonstrate the topotactic synthesis of a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected network of nanoporous CoP nanowires directly on a Ti substrate (np-CoP NWs/Ti) via low-temperature phosphidation of a Co2(OH)2(CO3)2/Ti precursor and its further use as a highly efficient hydrogen evolution cathode.