Nickel-nitride composite: An eco-friendly and efficient alternative to platinum for electrocatalytic hydrogen production

Shuqin Liang; Huashuai Hu; Jue Liu; Hangjia Shen; Qiao Li; Nianxiang Qiu; Hai Chuan Guo; Xuyun Guo; Shiyu Du; Ye Zhu; Jian Liu; J. Paul Attfield; Minghui Yang

doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123008

Nickel-nitride composite: An eco-friendly and efficient alternative to platinum for electrocatalytic hydrogen production

Shuqin Liang
, Huashuai Hu
, Jue Liu
, Hangjia Shen
, Qiao Li
, Nianxiang Qiu
, Hai Chuan Guo
, Xuyun Guo
, Shiyu Du
, Ye Zhu
, Jian Liu
, J. Paul Attfield
, Minghui Yang

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Water electrolysis using the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production. Platinum-based catalysts have traditionally been the most efficient HER catalysts, but their scarcity and sluggish water dissociation limit their practical applications. Here we report on a novel superhydrophilic catalyst of nickel supported on nickel molybdenum nitride (Ni/Ni_0.8Mo_4.2N₆) that outperforms platinum-based nanomaterials. Despite the low catalytic activity of Ni or Ni_0.8Mo_4.2N₆ alone, their optimized composite exhibits exceptional HER activity, with respective 500% and 150% increases in the exchange current and turnover frequency compared to commercial Pt/C. Density of states calculations reveal a decrease in electron density of the supported nickel in Ni/Ni_0.8Mo_4.2N₆, leading to a lower free energy of the HER. These findings demonstrate a powerful electron-engineering strategy for designing supported electrocatalysts with outstanding performance for the HER and related processes.

Original language	English
Article number	123008
Journal	Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume	337
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123008
Publication status	Published - 15 Nov 2023

Keywords

Electrocatalysts
Electronic redistribution
Hydrogen evolution reaction
Metal nitride
Ultra-high stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Catalysis
General Environmental Science
Process Chemistry and Technology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

More information

10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123008

Cite this

@article{47cc177942c54fe7a5720f51f22f0f20,

title = "Nickel-nitride composite: An eco-friendly and efficient alternative to platinum for electrocatalytic hydrogen production",

abstract = "Water electrolysis using the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production. Platinum-based catalysts have traditionally been the most efficient HER catalysts, but their scarcity and sluggish water dissociation limit their practical applications. Here we report on a novel superhydrophilic catalyst of nickel supported on nickel molybdenum nitride (Ni/Ni0.8Mo4.2N6) that outperforms platinum-based nanomaterials. Despite the low catalytic activity of Ni or Ni0.8Mo4.2N6 alone, their optimized composite exhibits exceptional HER activity, with respective 500\% and 150\% increases in the exchange current and turnover frequency compared to commercial Pt/C. Density of states calculations reveal a decrease in electron density of the supported nickel in Ni/Ni0.8Mo4.2N6, leading to a lower free energy of the HER. These findings demonstrate a powerful electron-engineering strategy for designing supported electrocatalysts with outstanding performance for the HER and related processes.",

keywords = "Electrocatalysts, Electronic redistribution, Hydrogen evolution reaction, Metal nitride, Ultra-high stability",

author = "Shuqin Liang and Huashuai Hu and Jue Liu and Hangjia Shen and Qiao Li and Nianxiang Qiu and Guo, \{Hai Chuan\} and Xuyun Guo and Shiyu Du and Ye Zhu and Jian Liu and Attfield, \{J. Paul\} and Minghui Yang",

note = "Funding Information: M. Yang thank the support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61971405 ), Zhejiang National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. R20B010001 ) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. DUT22RC(3)050 ). S. Du thank the support from the Entrepreneurship Program of Foshan National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, Zhejiang Province Key Research and Development Program (Grant No. 2019C01060 ). The research at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source NOMAD beamlines was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Basic Sciences Scientific User Facilities Division. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123008",

language = "English",

volume = "337",

journal = "Applied Catalysis B: Environmental",

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publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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T1 - Nickel-nitride composite

T2 - An eco-friendly and efficient alternative to platinum for electrocatalytic hydrogen production

AU - Liang, Shuqin

AU - Hu, Huashuai

AU - Liu, Jue

AU - Shen, Hangjia

AU - Li, Qiao

AU - Qiu, Nianxiang

AU - Guo, Hai Chuan

AU - Guo, Xuyun

AU - Du, Shiyu

AU - Zhu, Ye

AU - Liu, Jian

AU - Attfield, J. Paul

AU - Yang, Minghui

N1 - Funding Information: M. Yang thank the support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61971405 ), Zhejiang National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. R20B010001 ) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. DUT22RC(3)050 ). S. Du thank the support from the Entrepreneurship Program of Foshan National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, Zhejiang Province Key Research and Development Program (Grant No. 2019C01060 ). The research at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source NOMAD beamlines was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Basic Sciences Scientific User Facilities Division. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2023/11/15

Y1 - 2023/11/15

N2 - Water electrolysis using the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production. Platinum-based catalysts have traditionally been the most efficient HER catalysts, but their scarcity and sluggish water dissociation limit their practical applications. Here we report on a novel superhydrophilic catalyst of nickel supported on nickel molybdenum nitride (Ni/Ni0.8Mo4.2N6) that outperforms platinum-based nanomaterials. Despite the low catalytic activity of Ni or Ni0.8Mo4.2N6 alone, their optimized composite exhibits exceptional HER activity, with respective 500% and 150% increases in the exchange current and turnover frequency compared to commercial Pt/C. Density of states calculations reveal a decrease in electron density of the supported nickel in Ni/Ni0.8Mo4.2N6, leading to a lower free energy of the HER. These findings demonstrate a powerful electron-engineering strategy for designing supported electrocatalysts with outstanding performance for the HER and related processes.

AB - Water electrolysis using the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production. Platinum-based catalysts have traditionally been the most efficient HER catalysts, but their scarcity and sluggish water dissociation limit their practical applications. Here we report on a novel superhydrophilic catalyst of nickel supported on nickel molybdenum nitride (Ni/Ni0.8Mo4.2N6) that outperforms platinum-based nanomaterials. Despite the low catalytic activity of Ni or Ni0.8Mo4.2N6 alone, their optimized composite exhibits exceptional HER activity, with respective 500% and 150% increases in the exchange current and turnover frequency compared to commercial Pt/C. Density of states calculations reveal a decrease in electron density of the supported nickel in Ni/Ni0.8Mo4.2N6, leading to a lower free energy of the HER. These findings demonstrate a powerful electron-engineering strategy for designing supported electrocatalysts with outstanding performance for the HER and related processes.

KW - Electrocatalysts

KW - Electronic redistribution

KW - Hydrogen evolution reaction

KW - Metal nitride

KW - Ultra-high stability

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85162146914

U2 - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123008

DO - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123008

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85162146914

SN - 0926-3373

VL - 337

JO - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

JF - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

M1 - 123008

ER -

Nickel-nitride composite: An eco-friendly and efficient alternative to platinum for electrocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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