Article
|
Open Access
Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessAtomically dispersed Iridium on Mo2C as an efficient and stable alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst
High-performance hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells rely on the anode loading of platinum-group metals. Here, the authors report a highly active hydrogen oxidation electrocatalyst which contains atomically dispersed Ir on Mo2C nanoparticles supported on a carbon substrate.
- Jinjie Fang
- , Haiyong Wang
- & Zhongbin Zhuang
-
Article
| Open AccessMonosymmetric Fe-N4 sites enabling durable proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode by chemical vapor modification
The limited durability of metal-nitrogen-carbon electrocatalysts hinders their use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells for the oxygen reduction reaction. Here the authors transform active sites from FeN4 to stable monosymmetric FeN2 + N’2 via chemical vapor modification, resulting in enhanced improving the durability of the catalyst.
- Jingsen Bai
- , Tuo Zhao
- & Wei Xing
-
Article
| Open AccessDouble cross-linked 3D layered PBI proton exchange membranes for stable fuel cell performance above 200 °C
Phosphoric acid (PA) doped proton exchange membranes (PEMs) often degrade above 200 °C due to membrane creeping, PA dehydration, and condensation. Here, the authors introduce gel-state polybenzimidazole PEMs with double cross-linked 3D layered structures, enabling efficient and stable fuel cell operation above 200 °C.
- Liang Zhang
- , Mengjiao Liu
- & Lixin Xue
-
Article
| Open AccessEngineering surface dipoles on mixed conducting oxides with ultra-thin oxide decoration layers
Improving materials for energy devices relates to an optimisation of their surfaces. Here authors show that surface modification with ultrathin oxide layers allows for a tailoring of the surface dipole and the work function of mixed ionic and electronic conducting oxides.
- Matthäus Siebenhofer
- , Andreas Nenning
- & Markus Kubicek
-
Article
| Open AccessIn situ modulating coordination fields of single-atom cobalt catalyst for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction
The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction plays an important role in new energy technologies such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Here the authors present a cobalt catalyst with a symmetry-broken Cl−Co−N4 moiety capable of dynamically modulating electron occupancy at active sites during practical reaction conditions to optimize oxygen reduction performance.
- Meihuan Liu
- , Jing Zhang
- & Qinghua Liu
-
Article
| Open AccessTuning the apparent hydrogen binding energy to achieve high-performance Ni-based hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst
Nickel-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen oxidation reaction in hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells show promise, but their activity requires further enhancement. Here, the authors report NiCuCr alloy with high activity, owing to the efficient tuning of both hydrogen and water binding on Ni sites by alloying with Cu and Cr.
- Xingdong Wang
- , Xuerui Liu
- & Zhongbin Zhuang
-
Article
| Open AccessImplanting oxophilic metal in PtRu nanowires for hydrogen oxidation catalysis
Designing an efficient electrocatalyst of hydrogen oxidation reaction is highly critical for anion exchange membrane fuel cells. Here the authors report implanting oxophilic metal atoms in PtRu nanowires to significantly improve the mass activity, stability, and resistance to CO-poisoning for hydrogen oxidation.
- Zhongliang Huang
- , Shengnan Hu
- & Xiaoqing Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessA fast ceramic mixed OH−/H+ ionic conductor for low temperature fuel cells
Low temperature ionic conducting materials such as OH- and H+ ionic conductors are important electrolyte materials. Here the authors report the discovery of fast mixed OH- /H+ conductors in ceramic materials, SrZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ and CaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ, for potential use as electrolytes in fuel cells.
- Peimiao Zou
- , Dinu Iuga
- & Shanwen Tao
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentifying the distinct roles of dual dopants in stabilizing the platinum-nickel nanowire catalyst for durable fuel cell
Doping strategies have been shown to stabilize the active platinum-nickel (PtNi) catalyst in fuel cells, however, the atomistic mechanism is less known. Here, the authors identify the roles of Mo and Au dopants in improving the durability of a PtNi nanowire catalyst for fuel cells.
- Lei Gao
- , Tulai Sun
- & Hongwen Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessSynergistic dual-phase air electrode enables high and durable performance of reversible proton ceramic electrochemical cells
Efficient air electrodes drive reversible proton ceramic electrochemical cells, accelerating renewable energy conversion and storage. Here, the authors propose a highly active hybrid air electrode that effectively controls phase content, enhancing electrochemical activity and stability through synergistic effects.
- Zuoqing Liu
- , Yuesheng Bai
- & Zongping Shao
-
Article
| Open AccessMachine-learning-accelerated design of high-performance platinum intermetallic nanoparticle fuel cell catalysts
Platinum-based intermetallic alloys are promising candidates as low-platinum oxygen reduction reaction catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Here, the authors develop small sized and highly ordered Pt2CoCu and Pt2CoNi catalysts for fuel cells by machine-learning accelerated computational screening.
- Peng Yin
- , Xiangfu Niu
- & Hai-Wei Liang
-
Article
| Open AccessMetal-support interaction boosts the stability of Ni-based electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation
Nickel-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen oxidation in anion exchange membrane fuel cells face stability issues. Here the authors report Ni4Mo/TiO2 catalyst with significantly improved stability, owing to the efficient charge transfer from TiO2 to Ni.
- Xiaoyu Tian
- , Renjie Ren
- & Wenchao Sheng
-
Article
| Open AccessSintering-induced cation displacement in protonic ceramics and way for its suppression
The conductivity of protonic ceramic electrolytes for fuel cells is unsatisfactory due to poor sintering. Here, the authors report the adverse effects of dynamic Y3+ displacement on high-temperature membrane sintering and propose a new strategy for pre-doping Y into A-site to inhibit its further displacement.
- Ze Liu
- , Yufei Song
- & Linjuan Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessOperando analysis of a solid oxide fuel cell by environmental transmission electron microscopy
By contacting a solid oxide fuel cell to a microelectromechanical system inside an environmental electron microscope, the authors establish links between environmental conditions (gas atmosphere, temperature), cell voltage and atomic-scale structure.
- Q. Jeangros
- , M. Bugnet
- & M. Duchamp
-
Article
| Open AccessDirect methane protonic ceramic fuel cells with self-assembled Ni-Rh bimetallic catalyst
Direct methane protonic ceramic fuel cells are promising electrochemical energy conversion devices. However, their performance and stability remain challenging. Here, the authors develop a self-assembled Ni-Rh bimetallic catalyst which shows great enhancements in power output and long-term operational sustainability.
- Kyungpyo Hong
- , Mingi Choi
- & Jongsup Hong
-
Article
| Open AccessHigh proton conductivity within the ‘Norby gap’ by stabilizing a perovskite with disordered intrinsic oxygen vacancies
Proton conductors are promising materials used in various applications such as fuel cells. Here, authors report high proton conductivity due to the reduction of proton trapping of donor Mo6+ doped BaScO2.5 with disordered intrinsic oxygen vacancies.
- Kei Saito
- & Masatomo Yashima
-
Article
| Open AccessHydrogenated borophene enabled synthesis of multielement intermetallic catalysts
Supported metal catalysts suffer from rapid degradation under harsh conditions. Here, the authors report a hydrogenated borophene-triggered synthesis method to prepare carbon supported Pt and multielement Pt based intermetallic catalysts with enhanced catalytic activity and durability for oxygen reduction reaction.
- Xiaoxiao Zeng
- , Yudan Jing
- & Shengchun Yang
-
Article
| Open AccessDeveloping a class of dual atom materials for multifunctional catalytic reactions
This work developed a class of dual atom materials that can act as efficient and stable catalysts for multifunctional catalytic reactions in an uninterrupted water splitting system.
- Xingkun Wang
- , Liangliang Xu
- & Minghua Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessImprovement of oxygen reduction activity and stability on a perovskite oxide surface by electrochemical potential
Solid oxide fuel and electrolysis cells suffer from surface instability which challenges their performance and durability. Here, the authors report that cathodic polarization improves the electrochemical activity by formation of Ruddlesden-Popper phase, exsolution of Co, and suppression of Sr segregation.
- Sanaz Koohfar
- , Masoud Ghasemi
- & Bilge Yildiz
-
Article
| Open AccessMg-incorporated sorbent for efficient removal of trace CO from H2 gas
The challenge of trace CO removal from H2 remains at the forefront of the hydrogen economy. Here, the authors demonstrated exceptional CO removal using a highly stable, hierarchically structured sorbent bead, Mg13CuCeOx. Mechanistic analysis showed the pivotal role of Mg in enhancing CO sorption.
- Gina Bang
- , Seongmin Jin
- & Chang-Ha Lee
-
Article
| Open AccessAccelerated deprotonation with a hydroxy-silicon alkali solid for rechargeable zinc-air batteries
Surface reconstruction caused by adsorbate evolution mechanism leads to poor oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. Here, the authors introduce a hydroxy-silicon proton acceptor as OER catalyst which greatly accelerates the deprotonation process in OER and prolong the cycle life of zinc-ion batteries.
- Yaobin Wang
- , Xinlei Ge
- & Yunfei Bu
-
Article
| Open AccessPrecise synthetic control of exclusive ligand effect boosts oxygen reduction catalysis
Deconvoluting and quantitating ligand effect from the typical strain-ligand effects in a real catalytic structure remains challenging. Here, the authors report a core/shell catalyst model to quantitate how much ligand effect solely contributes to electrocatalytic performance through experimental design.
- Lu Tao
- , Kai Wang
- & Shaojun Guo
-
Article
| Open AccessPromoting ordering degree of intermetallic fuel cell catalysts by low-melting-point metal doping
The development of highly ordered intermetallic catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions suffers from large diffusion barrier for atom ordering. Here, the authors use a low melting-point metal doping strategy to synthesize a series of highly ordered metal-doped platinum–cobalt alloy fuel cell catalysts.
- Ru-Yang Shao
- , Xiao-Chu Xu
- & Hai-Wei Liang
-
Article
| Open AccessEmbedding oxophilic rare-earth single atom in platinum nanoclusters for efficient hydrogen electro-oxidation
Exploring enhanced catalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation with high catalytic activity and CO tolerance is highly desired yet challenging. Here, the authors report single-atom lanthanide embedded Pt nanoclusters with high activities and durability.
- Xiaoning Wang
- , Yanfu Tong
- & Wei Xing
-
Article
| Open AccessUpscaled production of an ultramicroporous anion-exchange membrane enables long-term operation in electrochemical energy devices
The design of highly selective yet robust anion exchange membranes remains a challenge. Here, the authors prepare a stable polymer membrane composed of terphenyl isomers, demonstrate roll-to-roll manufacturing, and assess its properties in redox flow batteries, water electrolyzers and fuel cells.
- Wanjie Song
- , Kang Peng
- & Tongwen Xu
-
Article
| Open AccessHidden chemical order in disordered Ba7Nb4MoO20 revealed by resonant X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR
Chemical order/disorder in materials can be difficult to determine for atoms with similar X-ray scattering factors and neutron scattering lengths. Here authors use resonant XRD and NMR to elucidate hidden Mo/Nb chemical order in disordered hexagonal perovskite Ba7Nb4MoO20, with Mo atoms found to be localized near the ion-conducting oxygen deficient layer.
- Yuta Yasui
- , Masataka Tansho
- & Masatomo Yashima
-
Article
| Open AccessActive and durable R2MnRuO7 pyrochlores with low Ru content for acidic oxygen evolution
Ru-pyrochlores find their way as alternative anodes of PEM water electrolyzers, and their high performance is owing to Ru sites embedded in RuMnOx surface layers. Here, a water electrolyser with Y2MnRuO7 and only 0.2 mgRu cm−2 has been tested with significant durability.
- Dmitry Galyamin
- , Jorge Torrero
- & Sergio Rojas
-
Article
| Open AccessInterfacial assembly of binary atomic metal-Nx sites for high-performance energy devices
An interfacial assembly strategy was developed to construct single-atom binary Fe/Co-Nx sites with a high accessible site density of 7.6 × 1019 sites per gram which results in increased power densities in fuel cells and Zn/air batteries.
- Zhe Jiang
- , Xuerui Liu
- & Jin-Song Hu
-
Article
| Open AccessAtomic-thick metastable phase RhMo nanosheets for hydrogen oxidation catalysis
The synthesis of ultrathin two-dimensional metastable metallic nanomaterials is highly challenging. Here, the authors report free-standing RhMo nanosheets with atomic thickness and a core/shell (metastable/stable phase) structure for high performance towards hydrogen oxidation.
- Juntao Zhang
- , Xiaozhi Liu
- & Xiaoqing Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessMesoporous Pt@Pt-skin Pt3Ni core-shell framework nanowire electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction
Controlling the morphology of Pt-based nanostructures can provide a great opportunity to boost their catalytic activity and durability. Here the authors report anisotropic mesoporous Pt@Pt-skin Pt3Ni core-shell framework nanowires for oxygen reduction reaction with enhanced mass activity and stability.
- Hui Jin
- , Zhewei Xu
- & Yong Liu
-
Article
| Open AccessInterface synergism and engineering of Pd/Co@N-C for direct ethanol fuel cells
It is challenging to develop high-activity and durable catalysts for both ethanol oxidation reaction on the anode and oxygen reduction reaction on the cathode. Here in this work, authors proposed Pd/Co@N-C catalyst as a model to synergistically maximize the usage of catalyst nanoparticles and active interfaces for direct ethanol fuel cells.
- Jinfa Chang
- , Guanzhi Wang
- & Yang Yang
-
Article
| Open AccessLarge-scale physically accurate modelling of real proton exchange membrane fuel cell with deep learning
Accurate liquid water modelling is challenging. Here the authors use X-ray micro-computed tomography, deep learned super-resolution, multi-label segmentation, and direct multiphase simulation to simulate fuel cell and guide fuel cell design.
- Ying Da Wang
- , Quentin Meyer
- & Ryan T. Armstrong
-
Article
| Open AccessPlatinum nanosheets synthesized via topotactic reduction of single-layer platinum oxide nanosheets for electrocatalysis
2D metals are promising electrocatalysts due to their potentially large surface area. Here we report double-layer Pt nanosheets derived from exfoliated PtOx nanosheets with higher electrochemically active surface area, oxygen reduction reaction activity, and stability compared to Pt nanoparticles.
- Daisuke Takimoto
- , Shino Toma
- & Wataru Sugimoto
-
Article
| Open AccessPhase diagrams guide synthesis of highly ordered intermetallic electrocatalysts: separating alloying and ordering stages
The synthesis of highly ordered intermetallic compound catalysts remains a challenge owing to the limited understanding of their formation mechanism under high-temperature conditions. Here the authors identify phase-transition-temperature-dependent evolution process in the synthesis of intermetallic Pt catalysts and propose a separate alloying/ordering annealing synthetic protocol.
- Wei-Jie Zeng
- , Chang Wang
- & Hai-Wei Liang
-
Article
| Open AccessLow Pt loading for high-performance fuel cell electrodes enabled by hydrogen-bonding microporous polymer binders
Lowering the Pt loading while maintaining high fuel-cell performance is an important but difficult task. Here the authors report modified polymers with intrinsic microporosity as binder for preferential retention of phosphoric acid in the catalyst layer, which offers great opportunities to lower the catalyst loading for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
- Hongying Tang
- , Kang Geng
- & Nanwen Li
-
Article
| Open AccessA self-powered ingestible wireless biosensing system for real-time in situ monitoring of gastrointestinal tract metabolites
Metabolic dynamics within the small intestine are difficult to study due to the lack of in situ access. Here, the authors report an ingestible, self-powered, and wireless biosensing system, demonstrating proof-of-principle real-time glucose monitoring in the small intestines of pigs.
- Ernesto De la Paz
- , Nikhil Harsha Maganti
- & Patrick P. Mercier
-
Comment
| Open AccessError, reproducibility and uncertainty in experiments for electrochemical energy technologies
The authors provide a metrology-led perspective on best practice for the electrochemical characterisation of materials for electrochemical energy technologies. Such electrochemical experiments are highly sensitive, and their results are, in practice, often of uncertain quality and challenging to reproduce quantitatively.
- Graham Smith
- & Edmund J. F. Dickinson
-
Article
| Open AccessAn integrated platinum-nanocarbon electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction
Improving fuel cell technologies based on Pt-based alloys is important for efficient fuel cells. Here, the authors report a hybrid PtCo alloy electrocatalyst for acidic oxygen reduction at high current densities and H2/air fuel cell power densities.
- Lei Huang
- , Min Wei
- & Bao Yu Xia
-
Article
| Open AccessSmall molecule-assisted synthesis of carbon supported platinum intermetallic fuel cell catalysts
Synthesis of small sized Pt intermetallic catalysts remains challenging. Herewith authors prepared 18 binary Pt intermetallic compounds with small particle size by molecule-assisted synthesis strategy to in-situ form the heteroatom-doped carbon shell.
- Tian-Wei Song
- , Cong Xu
- & Hai-Wei Liang
-
Article
| Open AccessRegulating the scaling relationship for high catalytic kinetics and selectivity of the oxygen reduction reaction
Improving kinetics for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction is relevant to important sustainable energy technologies. The authors propose an atomic-scale bimetal assembly consisting Pt and Fe dual sites to regulate the inherent scaling relationship between intermediates for fast kinetics.
- Wanlin Zhou
- , Hui Su
- & Qinghua Liu
-
Article
| Open AccessRevealing the role of ionic liquids in promoting fuel cell catalysts reactivity and durability
Fundamental understanding of the role of ionic liquids in complex catalyst layers in practically relevant membrane electrode assembly environment is important yet lacking. Here the authors find that ionic liquids can improve transport and increase reactivity of catalyst, thus improving durability and power density of polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
- Arezoo Avid
- , Jesus López Ochoa
- & Iryna V. Zenyuk
-
Article
| Open AccessDesigning fuel cell catalyst support for superior catalytic activity and low mass-transport resistance
Development of high-performance polymer electrolyte fuel cells has historically focused on designing new catalysts and ionomers. Here, the authors present a bottom-up approach for designing catalyst support that achieves superior oxygen reduction activity and low local oxygen transport resistance in a membrane electrode assembly.
- Muhammad Naoshad Islam
- , Abdul Bashith Mansoor Basha
- & Kunal Karan
-
Article
| Open AccessAtomically dispersed chromium coordinated with hydroxyl clusters enabling efficient hydrogen oxidation on ruthenium
Overcoming the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen oxidation reaction in alkaline media is of critical importance for anion exchange membrane fuel cells. Here the authors report atomically dispersed chromium coordinated with hydroxyl clusters on ruthenium nanoparticles for accelerated hydrogen oxidation reaction.
- Bingxing Zhang
- , Baohua Zhang
- & Hongge Pan
-
Article
| Open AccessCritical ionic transport across an oxygen-vacancy ordering transition
Phase transition points can be used to reduce the ionic migration activation energy. Here, the authors find a lowered activation energy associated with oxygen transport at a compositional phase transition point in Ca-doped bismuth ferrite films.
- Ji Soo Lim
- , Ho-Hyun Nahm
- & Chan-Ho Yang
-
Article
| Open AccessMovable type printing method to synthesize high-entropy single-atom catalysts
It is challenging to integrate multi-single metal atoms into one support. In this work, the authors demonstrate the production of high-entropy single-atom catalysts via a movable typing method, which enables the anchor up to eleven metals as highly dispersed single-atom active centers on the carbon support for the oxygen reduction reaction.
- Peng Rao
- , Yijie Deng
- & Xinlong Tian
-
Article
| Open AccessBoosting the stability of perovskites with exsolved nanoparticles by B-site supplement mechanism
The instability of perovskites with exsolved nanoparticles for CO2 electrocatalysis impedes their practical applications. Here, the authors show the formation of B-site vacancies in perovskite substrate as a major contributor to the degradation and report a strategy to enhance the stability of the perovskites at high voltages.
- Bo-Wen Zhang
- , Meng-Nan Zhu
- & Jing-Li Luo
-
Article
| Open AccessIron atom–cluster interactions increase activity and improve durability in Fe–N–C fuel cells
It is challenging to break the activity–stability trade-off in Fe–N–C fuel cell catalysts. Here, the authors show that interactions between iron atoms and clusters accelerate reaction kinetics and suppress demetalation to improve fuel cell stability.
- Xin Wan
- , Qingtao Liu
- & Jianglan Shui
-
Article
| Open AccessProduction of a hybrid capacitive storage device via hydrogen gas and carbon electrodes coupling
Conventional electric double-layer capacitors show limited energy content for energy storage applications. Here, the authors report an electrocatalytic hydrogen gas capacitor with improved specific energy, which can operate in pH-universal aqueous electrolyte solutions and a wide temperature range.
- Zhengxin Zhu
- , Zaichun Liu
- & Wei Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessSurface restructuring of a perovskite-type air electrode for reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells
One limiting factor to the high-performing reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells is the poor stability and electrocatalytic activity of air electrodes. Here the authors report a water-promoted surface restructuring process to enhance the performance of Ba0.9Co0.7Fe0.2Nb0.1O3-δ air electrode.
- Kai Pei
- , Yucun Zhou
- & Meilin Liu