CeO2 Nanoparticles Anchored in Cation-Vacancies NiFe-LDH toward Efffcient Oxygen Evolution Reactions in Green Sustainable Seawater Electrolysis

Journal:ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

Key Words:Green chemistry, Cation-vacancies, Seawater electrolysis, Cerium dioxide, Hard and soft acid-based

Abstract:In recent decades, there has been significant interest in eco-friendly hydrogen production from seawater electrolysis. However, the corrosive nature of Cl− on metal substrates prevents Ni−Fe layered hydroxides (NiFe-LDH) from being catalysts for direct use in seawater electrolysis. In this study, a NiFe-LDH attached to copper nanowire arrays with synergistic decoration of cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles and cationic defects was synthesized. It requires only 208 and 230 mV overpotentials under 1 M KOH and alkali wild seawater for 100 mA·cm−2. Moreover, the catalyst is capable of functioning at 400 mA·cm−2 in alkali natural seawater, with a retention rate of 99% for 80 h. Results of theoretical and experimental analyses indicate that the Ce−O−Ni unit formed by cation defects anchoring CeO2 particles promotes the charge transfer of NiFe-LDH to CeO2, which greatly reduces the adsorption energy of the OER active intermediates. The hard and soft acid-based (HSAB) theory states that the selective binding of OH− by high-valence Ni is responsible for the improvement in seawater stability and selectivity. This research aims to outline key considerations in developing high-efficiency seawater electrolysis catalysts.

Co-author:Liyan Wang,Liang Chu

First Author:Zhaokun Wang

Indexed by:Journal paper

Correspondence Author:Mu Yang,Ge Wang

Volume:12,

Page Number:11628-11637.

Translation or Not:no

Date of Publication:2024-07-21

Included Journals:SCI