Urea oxidation reaction (UOR),which has favorable thermodynamic energy barriers compared with oxygen evolution reaction (OER),can provide more cost-effective electrons for the renewable energy systems,but is trapped b...Urea oxidation reaction (UOR),which has favorable thermodynamic energy barriers compared with oxygen evolution reaction (OER),can provide more cost-effective electrons for the renewable energy systems,but is trapped by its sluggish UOR kinetics and intricate reaction intermediates formation/desorption process.Herein,we report a novel and effective electrocatalyst consisting of carbon cloth supported nitrogen vacancies-enriched Ce-doped Ni_(3)N hierarchical nanosheets (Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC) to optimize the flat-footed UOR kinetics,especially the stiff rate-determine CO_(2)desorption step of UOR.Upon the introduction of valance state variable Ce,the resultant nitrogen vacancies enriched Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC exhibits an enhanced UOR performance where the operation voltage requires only 1.31 V to deliver the current density of 10 mA cm^(-2),which is superior to that of Ni_(3)N @CC catalyst (1.36 V) and other counterparts.Density functional theory (DFT) results demonstrate that the incorporation of Ce in Ni_(3)N lowers the formation energy of nitrogen vacancies,resulting in rich nitrogen vacancies in Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC.Moreover,the nitrogen vacancies together with Ce doping optimize the local charge distribution around Ni sites,and balance the adsorption energy of CO_(2)in the rate-determining step (RDS),as well as affect the initial adsorption structure of urea,leading to the superior UOR catalytic performance of Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC.When integrating the Ce-Ni_(3)N catalyst in UOR//HER and UOR//CO_(2)R flow electrolyzer,both of them perform well with low operation voltage and robust long-term stability,proofing that the thermodynamically favorable UOR can act as a suitable substitute anodic reaction compared with that of OER.Our findings here not only provide a novel UOR catalyst but also offer a promising design strategy for the future development of energy-related devices.展开更多
Two-dimensional coordination polymers(CPs) have aroused tremendous interest as electrocatalysts because the catalytic performance could be fine-tuned by their well-designed coordination layers with highly accessible a...Two-dimensional coordination polymers(CPs) have aroused tremendous interest as electrocatalysts because the catalytic performance could be fine-tuned by their well-designed coordination layers with highly accessible and active metal sites.However,it remains great challenge for CP-based catalysts to be utilized for electrocatalytic oxidation reactions due to their inefficient activities and low catalytic stabilities.Herein,we applied a mixed-metal strategy to fabricate two-dimensional Co_xNi_(1-x)-CPs with dual active sites for electrocatalytic water and urea oxidation.By metal ratio regulation in the twodimensional layer,an optimized Co_(2/3)Ni_(1/3)-CP exhibits a water oxidation performance with an overpotential of 325 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2) and a Tafel slope of 86 mV dec^(-1) in alkaline solution for oxygen evolution reaction.Importantly,a lower potential than that of commercial RuO_(2) is observed over20 mA cm^(-2).Co_(2/3)Ni_(1/3)-CP also displays a potential of 1.381 V at 10 mA cm^(-2) for urea oxidation reaction and a Tafel slope of 124 mV dec^(-1).This mixed-metal strategy to maximize synergistic effect of different metal centers may ultimately lead to promising electrocatalysts for small molecule oxidation reaction.展开更多
Urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is an auxiliary water electrolysis hydrogen production technology developed in recent years to replace oxygen evolution reaction and reduce energy consumption,which can produce hydrogen mor...Urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is an auxiliary water electrolysis hydrogen production technology developed in recent years to replace oxygen evolution reaction and reduce energy consumption,which can produce hydrogen more efficiently by low theoretical potential,reduce the average cost of electrochemical hydrogen production,and is a frontier research hotspot for renewable hydrogen energy.Two-dimensional(2D)nanomaterials as electrocatalysts have many favorable potential,such as it can effectively reduce the resistivity of materials and increase the specific surface area with certainty.This paper reviews the application of 2D materials in UOR in alkaline electrolytes.And a cross-sectional comparison of various material performance data including overpotential,Tafel slope,electrochemical active surface area(ECSA)and it stability test was conducted,which could illustrate the differences between materials composed of different elements.In addition,the main challenges hindering the progress of research on 2D materials in urea electrocatalysis processes and promising materials in this field in future are summarized and prospected.It is believed that this review will contribute to designing and analyzing highperformance 2D urea electrocatalysts for water splitting.展开更多
Corrosion engineering is an effective way to improve the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)activity of al-loys.However,the impact of grain boundary corrosion on the structure and electrochemical performance of alloy is st...Corrosion engineering is an effective way to improve the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)activity of al-loys.However,the impact of grain boundary corrosion on the structure and electrochemical performance of alloy is still unknown.Herein,the vacuum arc-melted CrCoNiFe alloys with interlaced network struc-tures via grain boundary corrosion methods were fabricated.The grain boundaries that existed as de-fects were severely corroded and an interlaced network structure was formed,promoting the exposure of the active site and the release of gas bubbles.Besides,the(oxy)hydroxides layer(25 nm)on the sur-face could act as the true active center and improve the surface wettability.Benefiting from the unique structure and constructed surface,the CrCoNiFe-12 affords a high urea oxidation reaction(UOR)perfor-mance with the lowest overpotential of 250 mV at 10 mA/cm^(2)in 1 M KOH adding 0.33 M urea.The CrCoNiFe-12||Pt only required a cell voltage of 1.485 V to afford 10 mA/cm^(2)for UOR and long-term sta-bility of 100 h at 10 mA/cm^(2)(27.6 mV decrease).These findings offer a facile strategy for designing bulk multiple-principal-element alloy electrodes for energy conversion.展开更多
The electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is a promising strategy for addressing both environmental remediation and energy conversion challenges.Recently,heterojunction catalysts have gained significant attenti...The electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is a promising strategy for addressing both environmental remediation and energy conversion challenges.Recently,heterojunction catalysts have gained significant attention due to their enhanced catalytic activity and stability.This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in heterojunction catalysts for UOR.We begin by outlining the fundamental principles of UOR and key catalyst evaluation parameters.Next,we discuss the unique features of heterojunction catalysts,highlighting their structural and electronic advantages.The applications of various heterojunction architectures—including those based on transition metals,alloys,metal(hydro)oxides,chalcogenides,pnictides,and metal-organic frameworks—are then examined in detail.A particular focus is placed on structure-performance relationships and rational design strategies to optimize catalytic efficiency.This review offers valuable insights into the development of next-generation heterojunction catalysts for efficient and sustainable UOR applications.展开更多
Untreated urea-rich wastewater exerts severeadverse impacts on both the environment and human health,prompting extensive attention towards the urea oxidationreaction(UOR)as a sustainable technology to generate cleanen...Untreated urea-rich wastewater exerts severeadverse impacts on both the environment and human health,prompting extensive attention towards the urea oxidationreaction(UOR)as a sustainable technology to generate cleanenergy in recent years.UOR has a thermodynamic advantageover oxygen evolution reaction(OER)(1.23 V vs reversiblehydrogen electrode,RHE)and only requires 0.37 V(vs RHE),which is considered as an effective alternative to H_(2)production by water electrolysis.However,the inevitable kineticslowness and complex adsorption/desorption during the processhinder its practical application.Most traditional catalystsutilized for the UOR are comprised of precious metals,resulting in limited economic viability.Inspired by natural ureases,Ni-based catalysts have emerged as promisingalternatives owing to their rich deposits,low cost,and theregulated d orbitals of transition metal Ni,demonstratingconsiderable potential for UOR.Currently,numerous studieshave explored Ni-based hydroxides,oxides,chalcogenides,andphosphides in alkaline solutions.In this review,we will explorethe UOR reaction mechanism and summarize the catalystdesign strategies of various Ni-based catalysts recently,especially Ni-MOF,which has been rarely discussed before.Then,the broad prospects of UOR in practical applications aresummarized.Finally,based on the design strategies and performance comparisons discussed above,the challenges andprospects facing the future development of Ni-based electrocatalysts for the UOR will be presented.展开更多
The overall energy efficiency of electrochemical systems is severely hindered by the traditional anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Utilizing urea oxidation reaction(UOR)with lower thermodynamic potential to replac...The overall energy efficiency of electrochemical systems is severely hindered by the traditional anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Utilizing urea oxidation reaction(UOR)with lower thermodynamic potential to replace OER provides a promising strategy to enhance the energy efficiency.Amorphous and heterojunctions electrocatalysts have been aroused extensive studies owing to their unique physicochemical properties and outperformed activity.Herein,we report a simple method to construct a novel crystalline-amorphous NiO-CrO_(x)heterojunction grown on Ni foam for UOR electrocatalyst.The NiO-CrO_(x)electrocatalyst displays excellent UOR performance with an ultralow working potential of 1.32 V at 10 mA·cm^(−2)and ultra-long stability about 5 days even at 100 mA·cm^(−2).In-situ Raman analysis and temperature-programmed desorption(TPD)measurement verify that the presence of the amorphous CrO_(x)phase can boost the reconstruction from NiO to active NiOOH species and enhance adsorption ability of urea molecule.Besides,the unique crystalline-amorphous interfaces are also benefit to improving the UOR performance.展开更多
Deliberate modulation of the electronic structure via interface engineering is one of promising perspectives to build advanced catalysts for urea oxidation reaction(UOR)at high current densities.However,it still remai...Deliberate modulation of the electronic structure via interface engineering is one of promising perspectives to build advanced catalysts for urea oxidation reaction(UOR)at high current densities.However,it still remains some challenges originating from the intrinsically sluggish UOR dynamics and the high energy barrier for urea adsorption.In response,we report the coupled NiSe_(2)nanowrinkles with Ni_(5)P_(4)nanorods heterogeneous structure onto Ni foam(denoted as NiSe_(2)@Ni_(5)P_(4)/NF)through successive phosphorization and selenization strategy,in which the produced closely contacted interface could provide high-flux electron transfer pathways.Theoretical findings decipher that the fast charge transfer takes place at the interfacial region from Ni_(5)P_(4)to NiSe_(2),which is conducive to optimizing adsorption energy of urea molecules.As expected,the well-designed NiSe_(2)@Ni_(5)P_(4)/NF only requires the low potential of 1.402 V at the current density of 500 mA·cm^(-2).More importantly,a small Tafel slope of 27.6 mV·dec^(-1),a high turnover frequency(TOF)value of 1.037 s^(-1)as well as the prolonged stability of 950 h at the current density of 100 mA·cm^(-2)are also achieved.This study enriches the understanding on the electronic structure modulation via interface engineering and offers bright prospect to design advanced UOR catalysts.展开更多
In recent years,the discharge of urea-containing wastewater from industrial and domestic sources has posed a continuing threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health.In this context,the urea oxidation reaction(UOR)has...In recent years,the discharge of urea-containing wastewater from industrial and domestic sources has posed a continuing threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health.In this context,the urea oxidation reaction(UOR)has attracted significant attention due to its low thermodynamic potential of 0.37 V(vs.RHE).Compared with oxygen evolution reaction(OER),this reaction can significantly reduce the energy consumption of electrolysis while realizing wastewater treatment,and has the dual functions of hydrogen energy preparation and wastewater purification.However,UOR involves complex six-electron transfer and intermediate adsorption/desorption processes,resulting in slow reaction kinetics.Therefore,the development of economical and efficient catalysts has become a research focus,among which transition metal phosphides(TMPs)stand out due to their low cost,excellent activity and adjustable electronic structure.Compared with other non-noble metal systems,TMPs have unique electronic structure and surface properties that can adsorb and activate urea molecules more efficiently.However,there is still a lack of systematic reviews on TMP catalysts at present.Therefore,this review aims to deeply and systematically elaborate the design strategies of TMP catalysts and their applications in UOR,thoroughly discuss the current progress,challenges and future directions,and provide theoretical support and design ideas for the development of a new generation of efficient and stable UOR catalysts.展开更多
Urea holds promise as an alternative water-oxidation substrate in electrolytic cells.High-valence nickelbased spinel,especially after heteroatom doping,excels in urea oxidation reactions(UOR).However,traditional spine...Urea holds promise as an alternative water-oxidation substrate in electrolytic cells.High-valence nickelbased spinel,especially after heteroatom doping,excels in urea oxidation reactions(UOR).However,traditional spinel synthesis methods with prolonged high-temperature reactions lack kinetic precision,hindering the balance between controlled doping and highly active two-dimensional(2D)porous structures design.This significantly impedes the identification of electron configuration-dependent active sites in doped 2D nickel-based spinels.Herein,we present a microwave shock method for the preparation of 2D porous NiCo_(2)O_(4)spinel.Utilizing the transient on-off property of microwave pulses for precise heteroatom doping and 2D porous structural design,non-metal doping(boron,phosphorus,and sulfur)with distinct extranuclear electron disparities serves as straightforward examples for investigation.Precise tuning of lattice parameter reveals the impact of covalent bond strength on NiCo_(2)O_(4)structural stability.The introduced defect levels induce unpaired d-electrons in transition metals,enhancing the adsorption of electron-donating amino groups in urea molecules.Simultaneously,Bode plots confirm the impact mechanism of rapid electron migration caused by reduced band gaps on UOR activity.The prepared phosphorus-doped 2D porous NiCo_(2)O_(4),with optimal electron configuration control,outperforms most reported spinels.This controlled modification strategy advances understanding theoretical structure-activity mechanisms of high-performance 2D spinels in UOR.展开更多
Urea electro-oxidation reaction(UEOR)-boosted water electrolysis can supplant the kinetics-restricted oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and provide an energy-saving method of hydrogen generation.However,low UEOR activity ...Urea electro-oxidation reaction(UEOR)-boosted water electrolysis can supplant the kinetics-restricted oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and provide an energy-saving method of hydrogen generation.However,low UEOR activity and the poisoning issue of the catalyst limit its practical application.Herein,a simple coordination reaction is used to synthesize the dimethylglyoxime-NiⅡcomplex(DMGNiⅡ),which efficiently serves as the initial precursor to synthesize nitrogen-doped carbon nanorodsupported nickel phosphide nanoparticle(Ni_(2)P/N-C)nanocomposites.The density functional theory calculations and electrochemical results reveal that nitrogen doping can weaken the adsorption of hydrogen and the generated CO_(2)resulting in an enhancement of hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and UEOR activity.In addition,N-doping can also promote the generation of Ni,which can further promote the UEOR and HER performance.Concretely,the overpotential for the HER on Ni_(2)P/N-C-2h nanocomposites is only 201 m V at 10 mA cm,and the onset potential of the UEOR on NiP/NC-2h nanocomposites is only 1.34 V.Additionally,the Ni_(2)P/N-Cnanocomposites also show excellent long-term stability due to the introduction of nitrogen-doped carbon material.Consequently,the symmetric Ni_(2)P/N-C-2h||Ni_(2)P/N-C-2h urea electrolyzer requires 1.41 V of electrolysis voltage for urea electrolysis,which can be applied in energy-saving H_(2) production and environment purification.展开更多
Exploitation of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and urea oxidation reaction(UOR)catalysts with high activity and stability at large current density is a major challenge for energy-saving H_(2) production in water electr...Exploitation of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and urea oxidation reaction(UOR)catalysts with high activity and stability at large current density is a major challenge for energy-saving H_(2) production in water electrolysis.Herein,we use the pyridinic-N doping carbon layers coupled with tensile strain of FeNi alloy activated by NiFe_(2)O_(4)(FeNi/NiFe_(2)O_(4)@NC)for efficiently increasing the performance of water and urea oxidation.Due to the tensile strain effect on FeNi/NiFe_(2)O_(4)@NC,it provides a favorable modulation on the electronic properties of the active center,thus enabling amazing OER(η_(100)=196 mV)and UOR(E_(10)=1.32 V)intrinsic activity.Besides,the carbon-coated layers can be used as armor to prevent FeNi alloy from being corroded by the electrolyte for enhancing the OER/UOR stability at large current density,showing high industrial practicability.This work thus provides a simple way to prepare high-efficiency catalyst for activating water and urea oxidation.展开更多
Controllable design of the catalytic electrodes with hierarchical superstructures is expected to improve their electrochemical performance.Herein,a self-supported integrated electrode(NiCo-ZLDH/NF)with a unique hierar...Controllable design of the catalytic electrodes with hierarchical superstructures is expected to improve their electrochemical performance.Herein,a self-supported integrated electrode(NiCo-ZLDH/NF)with a unique hierarchical quaternary superstructure was fabricated through a self-sacrificing template strategy from the metal–organic framework(Co-ZIF-67)nanoplate arrays,which features an intriguing well-defined hierarchy when taking the unit cells of the NiCo-based layered double hydroxide(NiCo-LDH)as the primary structure,the ultrathin LDH nanoneedles as the secondary structure,the mesoscale hollow plates of the LDH nanoneedle arrays as the tertiary structure,and the macroscale three-dimensional frames of the plate arrays as the quaternary structure.Notably,the distinctive structure of NiCo-ZLDH/NF can not only accelerate both mass and charge transfer,but also expose plentiful accessible active sites with high intrinsic activity,endowing it with an excellent electrochemical performance for urea oxidation reaction(UOR).Specially,it only required the low potentials of 1.335,1.368 and 1.388 V to deliver the current densities of 10,100 and 200 mA cm^(-2),respectively,much superior to those for typical NiCo-LDH.Employing NiCo-ZLDH/NF as the bifunctional electrode for both anodic UOR and cathodic HER,an energy-saving electrolysis system was further explored which can greatly reduce the needed voltage of 213 mV to deliver the current density of 100 mA cm^(-2),as compared to the conventional water electrolysis system composed of OER.This work manifests that it is prospective to explore the hierarchically nanostructured electrodes and the innovative electrolytic technologies for high-efficiency electrocatalysis.展开更多
Urea oxidation reaction(UOR)provides a method for hydrogen production besides wastewater treatment,but the current limited catalytic activity has prevented the application.Herein,we develop a novel H_(2)O_(2) treatmen...Urea oxidation reaction(UOR)provides a method for hydrogen production besides wastewater treatment,but the current limited catalytic activity has prevented the application.Herein,we develop a novel H_(2)O_(2) treatment strategy for tailoring the surface oxygen ligand of NiFe-layered double hydroxides(NiFe-LDH).The sample after H_(2)O_(2) treatment(NiFeOLDH)shows significant enhancement on UOR efficiency,with the potential of 1.37 V(RHE)to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm^(2).The boost is attributed to the richness adsorption O ligand on NiFeO-LDH as revealed by XPS and Raman analysis.DFT calculation indicates formation of two possible types of oxygen ligands:adsorbed oxygen on the surface and exposed from hydroxyl group,lowered the desorption energy of CO_(2) product,which lead to the lowered onset potential.This strategy is further extended to NiFe-LDH nano sheet on Ni foam to reach a higher current density of 440 mA/cm^(2) of UOR at 1.8 V(RHE).The facile surface O ligand manipulation is also expected to give chance to many other electro-catalytic oxidations.展开更多
From the perspective of electronic structure modulation,it is highly desirable to rationally design the active urea oxidation reaction(UOR)catalysts through interface engineering.The binary cooperative heterostructure...From the perspective of electronic structure modulation,it is highly desirable to rationally design the active urea oxidation reaction(UOR)catalysts through interface engineering.The binary cooperative heterostructure systems have been shown significant enhancement for catalyzing UOR,but their performance still remains unsatisfactory for industrialization because of the unfavorable intermediate adsorption/desorption and deficient electron transfer channels.In response,taking the ternary cooperative Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4) heterostructure as the proof-of-concept paradigm,a catalytic model is rationally put forward to elucidate the UOR promotion mechanism at the molecular level.The rod-like Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4) nanoarrays with three-phase heterojunction are experimentally fabricated on Ni foam(named as Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4)/NF)via simple two-step processes.The density functional theory calculations disclose that construction of Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4) heterostructure model not only induce charge redistribution at the interfacial region for creating innumerable electron transfer channels,but also endow it with a moderate d-band center that could help to build a balance between adsorption and desorption of diverse UOR intermediates.Benefiting from the unique rod-like nanoarrays with large specific surface area and the optimized electronic structure,the well-designed Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4)/NF could act as a robust catalyst for driving UOR at industrial-level current densities under tough environments,offering great potential for commercial applications.展开更多
Renewable energy-driven water electrolysis is considered as an environmentally friendly hydrogen(H2)production technology.Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)with the urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is a more effe...Renewable energy-driven water electrolysis is considered as an environmentally friendly hydrogen(H2)production technology.Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)with the urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is a more effective way to improve the energy efficiency of H2 generation.Herein,a highly effi-cient 2D NiFeMo-based UOR catalyst and 1D NiFeMo-based HER catalyst are prepared by adjusting the concentration of MoO_(4)^(-).The MoO_(4)^(-)can serve as the key regulator to adjust the balance between the electrolytic dissociation(α)of the reactants and the supersaturation(S)to modulate the morphological and electronic structure.The prepared 2D NiFeMo nanosheet UOR catalyst and 1D NiFeMo nanorod HER catalyst can achieve a current density of 100 mA cm^(−2)at a potential of 1.36 and 0.062 V,respectively.In a HER/UOR system,a cell voltage of 1.58 V is needed to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm^(−2).The HER/UOR system operated stably for over 60 h with 3 times the direct water electrolysis current den-sity.Moreover,the in situ Raman characterization coupled with XPS analysis clarifies that the addition of high-valence Mo can lower the transition energy barrier between the low and high oxidation state of Ni,which in turn lowers the overpotential of UOR.This work provides a novel strategy for synthesizing morphology-dependent electrocatalysts for different catalytic systems.展开更多
Interface chemical modulation strategies are considered as promising method to prepare electrocatalysts for the urea oxidation reaction(UOR).However,conventional interface catalysts are generally limited by the inhere...Interface chemical modulation strategies are considered as promising method to prepare electrocatalysts for the urea oxidation reaction(UOR).However,conventional interface catalysts are generally limited by the inherent activity and incompatibility of the individual components themselves,and the irregular charge distribution and slow charge transfer ability between interfaces severely limit the activity of UOR.Therefore,we optimized and designed a Ni_(2)P/CoP interface with modulated surface charge distribution and directed charge transfer to promote UOR activity.Density functional theorycalculations first predict a regular charge transfer from CoP to Ni_(2)P,which creates a built-in electric field between Ni_(2)P and CoP interface.Optimization of the adsorption/desorption process of UOR/HER reaction intermediates leads to the improvement of catalytic activity.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization confirm the unique mechanism of facilitated reaction at the Ni_(2)P/CoP interface.Electrochemical tests further validated the prediction with excellent UOR/HER activities of 1.28 V and 19.7 mV vs.RHE,at 10 mA cm^(-2),respectively.Furthermore,Ni_(2)P/CoP achieves industrial-grade current densities(500 mA cm^(−2))at 1.75 V and 1.87 V in the overall urea electrolyzer(UOR||HER)and overall human urine electrolyzer(HUOR||HER),respectively,and demonstrates considerable durability.展开更多
To address the high cost and limited electrochemical endurance of Pt-based electrocatalysts,the appropriate introduction of transition metal-based compounds as supports to disperse and anchor Pt species offers a promi...To address the high cost and limited electrochemical endurance of Pt-based electrocatalysts,the appropriate introduction of transition metal-based compounds as supports to disperse and anchor Pt species offers a promising approach for improving catalytic efficiency.In this study,sub-1 nm Pt nanoclusters were uniformly confined on NiO supports with a hierarchical nanotube/nanosheet structure(Pt/NiO/NF)through a combination of spatial domain confinement and annealing.The resulting catalyst exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability for hydrogen evolution(HER)and urea oxidation reactions(UOR)under alkaline conditions.Structural characterization and density functional theory calculations demonstrated that sub-1 nm Pt nanoclusters were immobilized on the NiO supports by Pt–O–Ni bonds at the interface.The strong metal-support interaction induced massive charge redistribution around the heterointerface,leading to the formation of multiple active sites.The Pt/NiO/NF catalyst only required an overpotential of 12 and 136 mV to actuate current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm^(-2) for the HER,respectively,and maintained a voltage retention of 96%for 260 h of continuous operation at a current density of 500 mA cm^(-2).Notably,in energy-efficient hydrogen production systems coupled with the HER and UOR,the catalyst required cell voltages of 1.37 and 1.53 V to drive current densities of 10 and 50 mA cm^(-2),respectively—approximately 300 mV lower than conventional water electrolysis systems.This study presents a novel pathway for designing highly efficient and robust sub-nanometer metal cluster catalysts.展开更多
Urea-assisted water electrolysis offers a promising route to reduce energy consumption for hydrogen production and meanwhile treat urea-rich wastewater.Herein,we devised a shear force-involved polyoxometalate-organic ...Urea-assisted water electrolysis offers a promising route to reduce energy consumption for hydrogen production and meanwhile treat urea-rich wastewater.Herein,we devised a shear force-involved polyoxometalate-organic supramolecular self-assembly strategy to fabricate 3D hierarchical porous nanoribbon assembly Mn-VN cardoons.A bimetallic polyoxovanadate(POV)with the inherent structural feature of Mn surrounded by[VO_(6)]octahedrons was introduced to trigger precise Mn incorporation in VN lattice,thereby achieving simultaneous morphology engineering and electronic structure modulation.The lattice contraction of VN caused by Mn incorporation drives electron redistribution.The unique hierarchical architecture with modulated electronic structure that provides more exposed active sites,facilitates mass and charge transfer,and optimizes the associated adsorption behavior.Mn-VN exhibits excellent activity with low overpotentials of 86 m V and 1.346 V at 10 m A/cm^(2)for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and urea oxidation reaction(UOR),respectively.Accordingly,in the two-electrode urea-assisted water electrolyzer utilizing Mn-VN as a bifunctional catalyst,hydrogen production can occur at low voltage(1.456 V@10 m A/cm^(2)),which has the advantages of energy saving and competitive durability over traditional water electrolysis.This work provides a simple and mild route to construct nanostructures and modulate electronic structure for designing high-efficiency electrocatalysts.展开更多
Ni-based electrocatalysts are considered a promising choice for urea-assisted hydrogen production.However,its application remains challenging owing to the high occupancy of d orbital at the Ni site,which suppresses th...Ni-based electrocatalysts are considered a promising choice for urea-assisted hydrogen production.However,its application remains challenging owing to the high occupancy of d orbital at the Ni site,which suppresses the reactant adsorption to achieve satisfactory urea oxidation reaction(UOR)and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)activity.Herein,the WO_(3) site with empty d orbital is introduced into Ni_(3)S_(2) to construct dual active sites for regulating the adsorption of reactive molecules.Experimental and theoretical calculations indicate that the electron transfer from Ni_(3)S_(2) to WO_(3) forms electron-deficient Ni with sufficient empty d orbitals for optimizing urea/H_(2)O adsorption and tuning the adsorption behavior of the amino and carbonyl groups in urea.Consequently,the Ni_(3)S_(2)-WO_(3)/NF presents a remarkably low potential of 1.38 V to reach 10 mA cm^(-2) for UOR-assisted HER.This work highlights the significance of constructing synergistic dual active sites toward developing advanced catalysts for urea-assisted hydrogen production.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22109073, 22072067 and 21875112)the supports from National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Functional Materialsa project sponsored by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions。
文摘Urea oxidation reaction (UOR),which has favorable thermodynamic energy barriers compared with oxygen evolution reaction (OER),can provide more cost-effective electrons for the renewable energy systems,but is trapped by its sluggish UOR kinetics and intricate reaction intermediates formation/desorption process.Herein,we report a novel and effective electrocatalyst consisting of carbon cloth supported nitrogen vacancies-enriched Ce-doped Ni_(3)N hierarchical nanosheets (Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC) to optimize the flat-footed UOR kinetics,especially the stiff rate-determine CO_(2)desorption step of UOR.Upon the introduction of valance state variable Ce,the resultant nitrogen vacancies enriched Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC exhibits an enhanced UOR performance where the operation voltage requires only 1.31 V to deliver the current density of 10 mA cm^(-2),which is superior to that of Ni_(3)N @CC catalyst (1.36 V) and other counterparts.Density functional theory (DFT) results demonstrate that the incorporation of Ce in Ni_(3)N lowers the formation energy of nitrogen vacancies,resulting in rich nitrogen vacancies in Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC.Moreover,the nitrogen vacancies together with Ce doping optimize the local charge distribution around Ni sites,and balance the adsorption energy of CO_(2)in the rate-determining step (RDS),as well as affect the initial adsorption structure of urea,leading to the superior UOR catalytic performance of Ce-Ni_(3)N @CC.When integrating the Ce-Ni_(3)N catalyst in UOR//HER and UOR//CO_(2)R flow electrolyzer,both of them perform well with low operation voltage and robust long-term stability,proofing that the thermodynamically favorable UOR can act as a suitable substitute anodic reaction compared with that of OER.Our findings here not only provide a novel UOR catalyst but also offer a promising design strategy for the future development of energy-related devices.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number 21622105 and 21931004)the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (Grant number 18JCJQJC47200)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNankai University (63201016 and 63201043)the Ministry of Education of China (Grant number B12015)。
文摘Two-dimensional coordination polymers(CPs) have aroused tremendous interest as electrocatalysts because the catalytic performance could be fine-tuned by their well-designed coordination layers with highly accessible and active metal sites.However,it remains great challenge for CP-based catalysts to be utilized for electrocatalytic oxidation reactions due to their inefficient activities and low catalytic stabilities.Herein,we applied a mixed-metal strategy to fabricate two-dimensional Co_xNi_(1-x)-CPs with dual active sites for electrocatalytic water and urea oxidation.By metal ratio regulation in the twodimensional layer,an optimized Co_(2/3)Ni_(1/3)-CP exhibits a water oxidation performance with an overpotential of 325 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2) and a Tafel slope of 86 mV dec^(-1) in alkaline solution for oxygen evolution reaction.Importantly,a lower potential than that of commercial RuO_(2) is observed over20 mA cm^(-2).Co_(2/3)Ni_(1/3)-CP also displays a potential of 1.381 V at 10 mA cm^(-2) for urea oxidation reaction and a Tafel slope of 124 mV dec^(-1).This mixed-metal strategy to maximize synergistic effect of different metal centers may ultimately lead to promising electrocatalysts for small molecule oxidation reaction.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2020YFB1713500)the Major Science and Technology Projects of Henan Province(No.221100230200)+3 种基金Program for Innovative Research Team(in Science and Technology)in University of Henan Province(No.23IRTSTHN009)the Project of Science and Technology Department of Henan Province(Nos.232102241034 and 222102240074)the Natural Science Foundation of Suzhou University of Science and Technology(No.XKQ2020002)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China(No.22KJB530009)。
文摘Urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is an auxiliary water electrolysis hydrogen production technology developed in recent years to replace oxygen evolution reaction and reduce energy consumption,which can produce hydrogen more efficiently by low theoretical potential,reduce the average cost of electrochemical hydrogen production,and is a frontier research hotspot for renewable hydrogen energy.Two-dimensional(2D)nanomaterials as electrocatalysts have many favorable potential,such as it can effectively reduce the resistivity of materials and increase the specific surface area with certainty.This paper reviews the application of 2D materials in UOR in alkaline electrolytes.And a cross-sectional comparison of various material performance data including overpotential,Tafel slope,electrochemical active surface area(ECSA)and it stability test was conducted,which could illustrate the differences between materials composed of different elements.In addition,the main challenges hindering the progress of research on 2D materials in urea electrocatalysis processes and promising materials in this field in future are summarized and prospected.It is believed that this review will contribute to designing and analyzing highperformance 2D urea electrocatalysts for water splitting.
基金supported by the National Natu-ral Science Foundation of China(No.52102210)the Natural Sci-ence Foundation of Sichuan Province(Nos.2022NSFSC2005 and 2022NSFSC1255)+1 种基金the Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Op-toelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices of Ministry of Educa-tion,Jianghan University(No.JDGD-202218)Supplementary materials Supplementary material associated with this article can be found,in the online version,at doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2024.01.096.106。
文摘Corrosion engineering is an effective way to improve the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)activity of al-loys.However,the impact of grain boundary corrosion on the structure and electrochemical performance of alloy is still unknown.Herein,the vacuum arc-melted CrCoNiFe alloys with interlaced network struc-tures via grain boundary corrosion methods were fabricated.The grain boundaries that existed as de-fects were severely corroded and an interlaced network structure was formed,promoting the exposure of the active site and the release of gas bubbles.Besides,the(oxy)hydroxides layer(25 nm)on the sur-face could act as the true active center and improve the surface wettability.Benefiting from the unique structure and constructed surface,the CrCoNiFe-12 affords a high urea oxidation reaction(UOR)perfor-mance with the lowest overpotential of 250 mV at 10 mA/cm^(2)in 1 M KOH adding 0.33 M urea.The CrCoNiFe-12||Pt only required a cell voltage of 1.485 V to afford 10 mA/cm^(2)for UOR and long-term sta-bility of 100 h at 10 mA/cm^(2)(27.6 mV decrease).These findings offer a facile strategy for designing bulk multiple-principal-element alloy electrodes for energy conversion.
基金supported by the Australian Research Council(ARC)Discovery Project(DP220101139)and Linkage Project(LP240100542).
文摘The electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is a promising strategy for addressing both environmental remediation and energy conversion challenges.Recently,heterojunction catalysts have gained significant attention due to their enhanced catalytic activity and stability.This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in heterojunction catalysts for UOR.We begin by outlining the fundamental principles of UOR and key catalyst evaluation parameters.Next,we discuss the unique features of heterojunction catalysts,highlighting their structural and electronic advantages.The applications of various heterojunction architectures—including those based on transition metals,alloys,metal(hydro)oxides,chalcogenides,pnictides,and metal-organic frameworks—are then examined in detail.A particular focus is placed on structure-performance relationships and rational design strategies to optimize catalytic efficiency.This review offers valuable insights into the development of next-generation heterojunction catalysts for efficient and sustainable UOR applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52371240)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20230566)+3 种基金the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education InstitutionsNatural Science Research Project of Guangling College, Yangzhou University (ZKZD23005)the Universities’ Philosophy and Social Science Researches in Jiangsu Province (2023SJYB2088)the technical support we received at the Testing Center of Yangzhou University。
文摘Untreated urea-rich wastewater exerts severeadverse impacts on both the environment and human health,prompting extensive attention towards the urea oxidationreaction(UOR)as a sustainable technology to generate cleanenergy in recent years.UOR has a thermodynamic advantageover oxygen evolution reaction(OER)(1.23 V vs reversiblehydrogen electrode,RHE)and only requires 0.37 V(vs RHE),which is considered as an effective alternative to H_(2)production by water electrolysis.However,the inevitable kineticslowness and complex adsorption/desorption during the processhinder its practical application.Most traditional catalystsutilized for the UOR are comprised of precious metals,resulting in limited economic viability.Inspired by natural ureases,Ni-based catalysts have emerged as promisingalternatives owing to their rich deposits,low cost,and theregulated d orbitals of transition metal Ni,demonstratingconsiderable potential for UOR.Currently,numerous studieshave explored Ni-based hydroxides,oxides,chalcogenides,andphosphides in alkaline solutions.In this review,we will explorethe UOR reaction mechanism and summarize the catalystdesign strategies of various Ni-based catalysts recently,especially Ni-MOF,which has been rarely discussed before.Then,the broad prospects of UOR in practical applications aresummarized.Finally,based on the design strategies and performance comparisons discussed above,the challenges andprospects facing the future development of Ni-based electrocatalysts for the UOR will be presented.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52025013 and 22121005)the 111 Project(No.B12015),Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations,and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘The overall energy efficiency of electrochemical systems is severely hindered by the traditional anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Utilizing urea oxidation reaction(UOR)with lower thermodynamic potential to replace OER provides a promising strategy to enhance the energy efficiency.Amorphous and heterojunctions electrocatalysts have been aroused extensive studies owing to their unique physicochemical properties and outperformed activity.Herein,we report a simple method to construct a novel crystalline-amorphous NiO-CrO_(x)heterojunction grown on Ni foam for UOR electrocatalyst.The NiO-CrO_(x)electrocatalyst displays excellent UOR performance with an ultralow working potential of 1.32 V at 10 mA·cm^(−2)and ultra-long stability about 5 days even at 100 mA·cm^(−2).In-situ Raman analysis and temperature-programmed desorption(TPD)measurement verify that the presence of the amorphous CrO_(x)phase can boost the reconstruction from NiO to active NiOOH species and enhance adsorption ability of urea molecule.Besides,the unique crystalline-amorphous interfaces are also benefit to improving the UOR performance.
基金The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University(IMSIU)for funding and supporting this work through Research Partnership Program(No.RP-21-09-75).
文摘Deliberate modulation of the electronic structure via interface engineering is one of promising perspectives to build advanced catalysts for urea oxidation reaction(UOR)at high current densities.However,it still remains some challenges originating from the intrinsically sluggish UOR dynamics and the high energy barrier for urea adsorption.In response,we report the coupled NiSe_(2)nanowrinkles with Ni_(5)P_(4)nanorods heterogeneous structure onto Ni foam(denoted as NiSe_(2)@Ni_(5)P_(4)/NF)through successive phosphorization and selenization strategy,in which the produced closely contacted interface could provide high-flux electron transfer pathways.Theoretical findings decipher that the fast charge transfer takes place at the interfacial region from Ni_(5)P_(4)to NiSe_(2),which is conducive to optimizing adsorption energy of urea molecules.As expected,the well-designed NiSe_(2)@Ni_(5)P_(4)/NF only requires the low potential of 1.402 V at the current density of 500 mA·cm^(-2).More importantly,a small Tafel slope of 27.6 mV·dec^(-1),a high turnover frequency(TOF)value of 1.037 s^(-1)as well as the prolonged stability of 950 h at the current density of 100 mA·cm^(-2)are also achieved.This study enriches the understanding on the electronic structure modulation via interface engineering and offers bright prospect to design advanced UOR catalysts.
基金financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2022D01E38).
文摘In recent years,the discharge of urea-containing wastewater from industrial and domestic sources has posed a continuing threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health.In this context,the urea oxidation reaction(UOR)has attracted significant attention due to its low thermodynamic potential of 0.37 V(vs.RHE).Compared with oxygen evolution reaction(OER),this reaction can significantly reduce the energy consumption of electrolysis while realizing wastewater treatment,and has the dual functions of hydrogen energy preparation and wastewater purification.However,UOR involves complex six-electron transfer and intermediate adsorption/desorption processes,resulting in slow reaction kinetics.Therefore,the development of economical and efficient catalysts has become a research focus,among which transition metal phosphides(TMPs)stand out due to their low cost,excellent activity and adjustable electronic structure.Compared with other non-noble metal systems,TMPs have unique electronic structure and surface properties that can adsorb and activate urea molecules more efficiently.However,there is still a lack of systematic reviews on TMP catalysts at present.Therefore,this review aims to deeply and systematically elaborate the design strategies of TMP catalysts and their applications in UOR,thoroughly discuss the current progress,challenges and future directions,and provide theoretical support and design ideas for the development of a new generation of efficient and stable UOR catalysts.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52203070)the Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technologies(FZ2022005)+2 种基金the Open Fund of Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass Fiber and Ecological Dyeing and Finishing(STRZ202203)the financial support provided by the China Scholarship Council(CSC)Visiting Scholar Programfinancial support from Institute for Sustainability,Energy and Resources,The University of Adelaide,Future Making Fellowship。
文摘Urea holds promise as an alternative water-oxidation substrate in electrolytic cells.High-valence nickelbased spinel,especially after heteroatom doping,excels in urea oxidation reactions(UOR).However,traditional spinel synthesis methods with prolonged high-temperature reactions lack kinetic precision,hindering the balance between controlled doping and highly active two-dimensional(2D)porous structures design.This significantly impedes the identification of electron configuration-dependent active sites in doped 2D nickel-based spinels.Herein,we present a microwave shock method for the preparation of 2D porous NiCo_(2)O_(4)spinel.Utilizing the transient on-off property of microwave pulses for precise heteroatom doping and 2D porous structural design,non-metal doping(boron,phosphorus,and sulfur)with distinct extranuclear electron disparities serves as straightforward examples for investigation.Precise tuning of lattice parameter reveals the impact of covalent bond strength on NiCo_(2)O_(4)structural stability.The introduced defect levels induce unpaired d-electrons in transition metals,enhancing the adsorption of electron-donating amino groups in urea molecules.Simultaneously,Bode plots confirm the impact mechanism of rapid electron migration caused by reduced band gaps on UOR activity.The prepared phosphorus-doped 2D porous NiCo_(2)O_(4),with optimal electron configuration control,outperforms most reported spinels.This controlled modification strategy advances understanding theoretical structure-activity mechanisms of high-performance 2D spinels in UOR.
基金the financial support from the Outstanding Youth Project of Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.2021B1515020051)the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou(2019050001)+1 种基金the Special Fund Project of Science and Technology Application in Guangdong(2017B020240002)the National 111 project。
文摘Urea electro-oxidation reaction(UEOR)-boosted water electrolysis can supplant the kinetics-restricted oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and provide an energy-saving method of hydrogen generation.However,low UEOR activity and the poisoning issue of the catalyst limit its practical application.Herein,a simple coordination reaction is used to synthesize the dimethylglyoxime-NiⅡcomplex(DMGNiⅡ),which efficiently serves as the initial precursor to synthesize nitrogen-doped carbon nanorodsupported nickel phosphide nanoparticle(Ni_(2)P/N-C)nanocomposites.The density functional theory calculations and electrochemical results reveal that nitrogen doping can weaken the adsorption of hydrogen and the generated CO_(2)resulting in an enhancement of hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and UEOR activity.In addition,N-doping can also promote the generation of Ni,which can further promote the UEOR and HER performance.Concretely,the overpotential for the HER on Ni_(2)P/N-C-2h nanocomposites is only 201 m V at 10 mA cm,and the onset potential of the UEOR on NiP/NC-2h nanocomposites is only 1.34 V.Additionally,the Ni_(2)P/N-Cnanocomposites also show excellent long-term stability due to the introduction of nitrogen-doped carbon material.Consequently,the symmetric Ni_(2)P/N-C-2h||Ni_(2)P/N-C-2h urea electrolyzer requires 1.41 V of electrolysis voltage for urea electrolysis,which can be applied in energy-saving H_(2) production and environment purification.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21872040,22162004)the Excellent Scholars and Innovation Team of Guangxi Universities,the Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Education(YCBZ2022038)the High-performance Computing Platform of Guangxi University.
文摘Exploitation of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and urea oxidation reaction(UOR)catalysts with high activity and stability at large current density is a major challenge for energy-saving H_(2) production in water electrolysis.Herein,we use the pyridinic-N doping carbon layers coupled with tensile strain of FeNi alloy activated by NiFe_(2)O_(4)(FeNi/NiFe_(2)O_(4)@NC)for efficiently increasing the performance of water and urea oxidation.Due to the tensile strain effect on FeNi/NiFe_(2)O_(4)@NC,it provides a favorable modulation on the electronic properties of the active center,thus enabling amazing OER(η_(100)=196 mV)and UOR(E_(10)=1.32 V)intrinsic activity.Besides,the carbon-coated layers can be used as armor to prevent FeNi alloy from being corroded by the electrolyte for enhancing the OER/UOR stability at large current density,showing high industrial practicability.This work thus provides a simple way to prepare high-efficiency catalyst for activating water and urea oxidation.
基金support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21901246,22105203 and 22175174)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(2020J01116 and 2021J06033)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021TQ0332 and 2021M703215).
文摘Controllable design of the catalytic electrodes with hierarchical superstructures is expected to improve their electrochemical performance.Herein,a self-supported integrated electrode(NiCo-ZLDH/NF)with a unique hierarchical quaternary superstructure was fabricated through a self-sacrificing template strategy from the metal–organic framework(Co-ZIF-67)nanoplate arrays,which features an intriguing well-defined hierarchy when taking the unit cells of the NiCo-based layered double hydroxide(NiCo-LDH)as the primary structure,the ultrathin LDH nanoneedles as the secondary structure,the mesoscale hollow plates of the LDH nanoneedle arrays as the tertiary structure,and the macroscale three-dimensional frames of the plate arrays as the quaternary structure.Notably,the distinctive structure of NiCo-ZLDH/NF can not only accelerate both mass and charge transfer,but also expose plentiful accessible active sites with high intrinsic activity,endowing it with an excellent electrochemical performance for urea oxidation reaction(UOR).Specially,it only required the low potentials of 1.335,1.368 and 1.388 V to deliver the current densities of 10,100 and 200 mA cm^(-2),respectively,much superior to those for typical NiCo-LDH.Employing NiCo-ZLDH/NF as the bifunctional electrode for both anodic UOR and cathodic HER,an energy-saving electrolysis system was further explored which can greatly reduce the needed voltage of 213 mV to deliver the current density of 100 mA cm^(-2),as compared to the conventional water electrolysis system composed of OER.This work manifests that it is prospective to explore the hierarchically nanostructured electrodes and the innovative electrolytic technologies for high-efficiency electrocatalysis.
基金This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFA1600800)the Funds fromConstruction of High Level Universities and Key Disciplines of Shenzhen University(No.860-000002110291).
文摘Urea oxidation reaction(UOR)provides a method for hydrogen production besides wastewater treatment,but the current limited catalytic activity has prevented the application.Herein,we develop a novel H_(2)O_(2) treatment strategy for tailoring the surface oxygen ligand of NiFe-layered double hydroxides(NiFe-LDH).The sample after H_(2)O_(2) treatment(NiFeOLDH)shows significant enhancement on UOR efficiency,with the potential of 1.37 V(RHE)to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm^(2).The boost is attributed to the richness adsorption O ligand on NiFeO-LDH as revealed by XPS and Raman analysis.DFT calculation indicates formation of two possible types of oxygen ligands:adsorbed oxygen on the surface and exposed from hydroxyl group,lowered the desorption energy of CO_(2) product,which lead to the lowered onset potential.This strategy is further extended to NiFe-LDH nano sheet on Ni foam to reach a higher current density of 440 mA/cm^(2) of UOR at 1.8 V(RHE).The facile surface O ligand manipulation is also expected to give chance to many other electro-catalytic oxidations.
基金funding and supporting this work through Research Partnership Program(No.RP-21-09-75)。
文摘From the perspective of electronic structure modulation,it is highly desirable to rationally design the active urea oxidation reaction(UOR)catalysts through interface engineering.The binary cooperative heterostructure systems have been shown significant enhancement for catalyzing UOR,but their performance still remains unsatisfactory for industrialization because of the unfavorable intermediate adsorption/desorption and deficient electron transfer channels.In response,taking the ternary cooperative Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4) heterostructure as the proof-of-concept paradigm,a catalytic model is rationally put forward to elucidate the UOR promotion mechanism at the molecular level.The rod-like Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4) nanoarrays with three-phase heterojunction are experimentally fabricated on Ni foam(named as Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4)/NF)via simple two-step processes.The density functional theory calculations disclose that construction of Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4) heterostructure model not only induce charge redistribution at the interfacial region for creating innumerable electron transfer channels,but also endow it with a moderate d-band center that could help to build a balance between adsorption and desorption of diverse UOR intermediates.Benefiting from the unique rod-like nanoarrays with large specific surface area and the optimized electronic structure,the well-designed Ni_5P_(4)/NiSe_(2)/Ni_(3)Se_(4)/NF could act as a robust catalyst for driving UOR at industrial-level current densities under tough environments,offering great potential for commercial applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22308322)the Science Foundation of Donghai Laboratory(No.DH-2022ZY0010)the R&D Project of State Grid Corporation of China(No.5108-202218280A-2-439-XG).
文摘Renewable energy-driven water electrolysis is considered as an environmentally friendly hydrogen(H2)production technology.Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)with the urea oxidation reaction(UOR)is a more effective way to improve the energy efficiency of H2 generation.Herein,a highly effi-cient 2D NiFeMo-based UOR catalyst and 1D NiFeMo-based HER catalyst are prepared by adjusting the concentration of MoO_(4)^(-).The MoO_(4)^(-)can serve as the key regulator to adjust the balance between the electrolytic dissociation(α)of the reactants and the supersaturation(S)to modulate the morphological and electronic structure.The prepared 2D NiFeMo nanosheet UOR catalyst and 1D NiFeMo nanorod HER catalyst can achieve a current density of 100 mA cm^(−2)at a potential of 1.36 and 0.062 V,respectively.In a HER/UOR system,a cell voltage of 1.58 V is needed to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm^(−2).The HER/UOR system operated stably for over 60 h with 3 times the direct water electrolysis current den-sity.Moreover,the in situ Raman characterization coupled with XPS analysis clarifies that the addition of high-valence Mo can lower the transition energy barrier between the low and high oxidation state of Ni,which in turn lowers the overpotential of UOR.This work provides a novel strategy for synthesizing morphology-dependent electrocatalysts for different catalytic systems.
文摘Interface chemical modulation strategies are considered as promising method to prepare electrocatalysts for the urea oxidation reaction(UOR).However,conventional interface catalysts are generally limited by the inherent activity and incompatibility of the individual components themselves,and the irregular charge distribution and slow charge transfer ability between interfaces severely limit the activity of UOR.Therefore,we optimized and designed a Ni_(2)P/CoP interface with modulated surface charge distribution and directed charge transfer to promote UOR activity.Density functional theorycalculations first predict a regular charge transfer from CoP to Ni_(2)P,which creates a built-in electric field between Ni_(2)P and CoP interface.Optimization of the adsorption/desorption process of UOR/HER reaction intermediates leads to the improvement of catalytic activity.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization confirm the unique mechanism of facilitated reaction at the Ni_(2)P/CoP interface.Electrochemical tests further validated the prediction with excellent UOR/HER activities of 1.28 V and 19.7 mV vs.RHE,at 10 mA cm^(-2),respectively.Furthermore,Ni_(2)P/CoP achieves industrial-grade current densities(500 mA cm^(−2))at 1.75 V and 1.87 V in the overall urea electrolyzer(UOR||HER)and overall human urine electrolyzer(HUOR||HER),respectively,and demonstrates considerable durability.
文摘To address the high cost and limited electrochemical endurance of Pt-based electrocatalysts,the appropriate introduction of transition metal-based compounds as supports to disperse and anchor Pt species offers a promising approach for improving catalytic efficiency.In this study,sub-1 nm Pt nanoclusters were uniformly confined on NiO supports with a hierarchical nanotube/nanosheet structure(Pt/NiO/NF)through a combination of spatial domain confinement and annealing.The resulting catalyst exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability for hydrogen evolution(HER)and urea oxidation reactions(UOR)under alkaline conditions.Structural characterization and density functional theory calculations demonstrated that sub-1 nm Pt nanoclusters were immobilized on the NiO supports by Pt–O–Ni bonds at the interface.The strong metal-support interaction induced massive charge redistribution around the heterointerface,leading to the formation of multiple active sites.The Pt/NiO/NF catalyst only required an overpotential of 12 and 136 mV to actuate current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm^(-2) for the HER,respectively,and maintained a voltage retention of 96%for 260 h of continuous operation at a current density of 500 mA cm^(-2).Notably,in energy-efficient hydrogen production systems coupled with the HER and UOR,the catalyst required cell voltages of 1.37 and 1.53 V to drive current densities of 10 and 50 mA cm^(-2),respectively—approximately 300 mV lower than conventional water electrolysis systems.This study presents a novel pathway for designing highly efficient and robust sub-nanometer metal cluster catalysts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22322104,22171074)the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(No.YQ2021B009)+3 种基金the Reform and Development Fund Project of Local University supported by the Central Government(Outstanding Youth Program)Heilongjiang Province Young Scientific and Technological Talent Lifting Project(No.2023QNTJ019)the Basic Research Support Project for Outstanding Young Teachers in Heilongjiang Provincial University(No.YQJH2023129)the Outstanding Youth Science Foundation of Heilongjiang University(No.JCL202301)。
文摘Urea-assisted water electrolysis offers a promising route to reduce energy consumption for hydrogen production and meanwhile treat urea-rich wastewater.Herein,we devised a shear force-involved polyoxometalate-organic supramolecular self-assembly strategy to fabricate 3D hierarchical porous nanoribbon assembly Mn-VN cardoons.A bimetallic polyoxovanadate(POV)with the inherent structural feature of Mn surrounded by[VO_(6)]octahedrons was introduced to trigger precise Mn incorporation in VN lattice,thereby achieving simultaneous morphology engineering and electronic structure modulation.The lattice contraction of VN caused by Mn incorporation drives electron redistribution.The unique hierarchical architecture with modulated electronic structure that provides more exposed active sites,facilitates mass and charge transfer,and optimizes the associated adsorption behavior.Mn-VN exhibits excellent activity with low overpotentials of 86 m V and 1.346 V at 10 m A/cm^(2)for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and urea oxidation reaction(UOR),respectively.Accordingly,in the two-electrode urea-assisted water electrolyzer utilizing Mn-VN as a bifunctional catalyst,hydrogen production can occur at low voltage(1.456 V@10 m A/cm^(2)),which has the advantages of energy saving and competitive durability over traditional water electrolysis.This work provides a simple and mild route to construct nanostructures and modulate electronic structure for designing high-efficiency electrocatalysts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22162004)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province(2022JJD120011).
文摘Ni-based electrocatalysts are considered a promising choice for urea-assisted hydrogen production.However,its application remains challenging owing to the high occupancy of d orbital at the Ni site,which suppresses the reactant adsorption to achieve satisfactory urea oxidation reaction(UOR)and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)activity.Herein,the WO_(3) site with empty d orbital is introduced into Ni_(3)S_(2) to construct dual active sites for regulating the adsorption of reactive molecules.Experimental and theoretical calculations indicate that the electron transfer from Ni_(3)S_(2) to WO_(3) forms electron-deficient Ni with sufficient empty d orbitals for optimizing urea/H_(2)O adsorption and tuning the adsorption behavior of the amino and carbonyl groups in urea.Consequently,the Ni_(3)S_(2)-WO_(3)/NF presents a remarkably low potential of 1.38 V to reach 10 mA cm^(-2) for UOR-assisted HER.This work highlights the significance of constructing synergistic dual active sites toward developing advanced catalysts for urea-assisted hydrogen production.
