Constructing core-shell structured Mott–Schottky heterojunction towards remarkable hydrogen production from water/seawater splitting


Zhang H., Li R., Huang Z., Humayun M., Xu X., Duan J., ...More

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, vol.1005, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 1005
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.175952
  • Journal Name: Journal of Alloys and Compounds
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Public Affairs Index, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Bifunctional electrocatalyst, HER, OER, Schottky heterostructure, Seawater splitting
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Green hydrogen production through electrocatalytic water/seawater splitting has recently received significant attention. However, the practical utilization for this technique is still limited due to the poor performance and stability of electrocatalysts. Herein, a heterogeneous core-shell hybrid, containing Ni3S2 nanorod arrays and CoFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets, has been fabricated via a developed two-step hydrothermal and electrodeposition method. The build-in electronic field in the as-formed Mott–Schottky barrier endows the efficient electron transfer from CoFe LDH to Ni3S2, subsequently enhancing the reaction kinetics. The as-prepared Ni3S2@CoFe catalyst exhibits exceptional performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER, η10 = 222 and 237 mV) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, η10 = 83 and 109 mV) in 1 M KOH as well as alkaline seawater environments, respectively. Notably, it only requires a cell voltage of 1.51 and 1.55 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm[sbnd]2 for overall seawater and water splitting, respectively, outperforming the commercial benchmark Pt/C||RuO2 (1.56 V). This work paves a solid way for construction of Mott–Schottky catalysts for green hydrogen production and its beyond.