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Fe–Ni-based alloys as highly active and low-cost oxygen evolution reaction catalyst in alkaline media
NiFe-based oxo-hydroxides are active for the oxygen evolution reaction but suffer from complex synthesis and durability when deposited. Easily processable Fe–Ni alloys with a highly active oxo-hydroxide surface are now shown to pave the way for oxygen-evolving electrodes for alkaline water electrolysers.
- Lucile Magnier
- , Garance Cossard
- & Marian Chatenet
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Article
| Open AccessElectrochemical and chemical cycle for high-efficiency decoupled water splitting in a near-neutral electrolyte
Hydrogen produced by water splitting using renewable electricity is key to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Decoupling hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions during electrolysis is attractive but efficiency and operational challenges remain. A process producing hydrogen and oxygen in separate cells and supporting continuous operation in a membraneless system is now proposed.
- Ilya Slobodkin
- , Elena Davydova
- & Avner Rothschild
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News & Views |
Beyond lithium for sustainable ammonia synthesis
Using an electrochemical continuous flow cell, nitrogen reduction to ammonia is rigorously demonstrated through a calcium-mediated approach.
- Michael A. Yusov
- & Karthish Manthiram
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Article |
Calcium-mediated nitrogen reduction for electrochemical ammonia synthesis
The production of ammonia via the Haber–Bosch process is carbon-intensive and centralized, but electrochemical methods such as lithium-mediated processes in organic electrolytes could enable decentralized production using renewable energy. Calcium is now shown to mediate nitrogen reduction for ammonia synthesis.
- Xianbiao Fu
- , Valerie A. Niemann
- & Ib Chorkendorff
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Article |
Amorphous nickel hydroxide shell tailors local chemical environment on platinum surface for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
Elaborated catalysts design can substantially enhance performance under unfavourable reaction conditions. Amorphous nickel hydroxide proton sieve used to modify local chemical environment on a platinum surface results in unprecedented performance for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.
- Chengzhang Wan
- , Zisheng Zhang
- & Xiangfeng Duan
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Article |
Imaging the strain evolution of a platinum nanoparticle under electrochemical control
Surface strain can be used in gas phase catalysis and electrocatalysis to control the binding energies of adsorbates on active sites, but in situ or operando strain measurements can be challenging. Coherent diffraction now allows strain inside individual Pt nanoparticles to be mapped and quantified under electrochemical control.
- Clément Atlan
- , Corentin Chatelier
- & Marie-Ingrid Richard
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News & Views |
Measuring the potential of zero charge
A second-harmonic generation approach enables the direct measurement of the potential of zero charge at electrochemical interfaces.
- Jan Rossmeisl
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Article |
Optical method for quantifying the potential of zero charge at the platinum–water electrochemical interface
The electric field created at an electrode–electrolyte interface can polarize the electrode’s surface and nearby molecules. Although its effect can be countered by an applied potential, quantifying the value of this potential is difficult. An optical method for determining the potential of zero charge at an electrochemical interface is now presented.
- Pengtao Xu
- , Alexander D. von Rueden
- & Jin Suntivich
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Article |
Non-iridium-based electrocatalyst for durable acidic oxygen evolution reaction in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis
Iridium-based electrocatalysts are traditional anode catalysts for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis but suffer from high cost and low reserves. An alternative, nickel-stabilized ruthenium dioxide catalyst with high activity and durability in acidic oxygen evolution reaction for water electrolysis is reported.
- Zhen-Yu Wu
- , Feng-Yang Chen
- & Haotian Wang
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News & Views |
Enabling low-cost and sustainable fuel cells
A hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cell consisting of a nickel-based anode and a cobalt–manganese–oxide cathode is shown to achieve a power density of 488 mW cm–2 at 95 °C.
- Frédéric Jaouen
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Letter |
Long-term solar water and CO2 splitting with photoelectrochemical BiOI–BiVO4 tandems
Photoelectrochemical devices are used for direct solar fuel production, but the stability of light absorbers can hamper their commercial prospects. Integrating a BiOI light absorber into a robust oxide-based architecture with a graphite paste conductive encapsulant results in photocathodes with long-term H2 evolution activity.
- Virgil Andrei
- , Robert A. Jagt
- & Erwin Reisner
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News & Views |
A large library for tiny catalysts
Atomically dispersed catalysts show great promise, but their design is challenging. A library of catalysts spanning 37 elements was created to uncover unified principles for catalyst design.
- Ziyi Chen
- , David Morris
- & Peng Zhang
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Article |
An efficient nickel hydrogen oxidation catalyst for hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells
Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells are promising as an energy conversion technology, but require platinum group metal electrocatalysts for their application. A Ni-based hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst is now shown to exhibit unprecedented electrochemical performance.
- Weiyan Ni
- , Teng Wang
- & Xile Hu
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Article |
3D-printed hierarchical pillar array electrodes for high-performance semi-artificial photosynthesis
Wiring photosynthetic biomachineries to electrodes is promising for sustainable bio-electricity and fuel generation, but designing such interfaces is challenging. Aerosol jet printing is now used to generate hierarchical pillar array electrodes using indium tin oxide nanoparticles for high-performance semi-artificial photosynthesis.
- Xiaolong Chen
- , Joshua M. Lawrence
- & Jenny Z. Zhang
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Article |
Tunable metal hydroxide–organic frameworks for catalysing oxygen evolution
The oxygen evolution reaction is central to making chemicals and energy carriers using electrons. Metal hydroxide–organic frameworks are shown to act as a tunable catalytic platform for oxygen evolution, with π–π interactions dictating stability and transition metals modulating activity.
- Shuai Yuan
- , Jiayu Peng
- & Yang Shao-Horn
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Article |
Inter-facet junction effects on particulate photoelectrodes
In anisotropically shaped photocatalyst particles different constituent facets may form inter-facet junctions at their adjoining edges. Using multimodal functional imaging, inter-facet junction effects on anisotropically shaped bismuth vanadate particles are revealed.
- Xianwen Mao
- & Peng Chen
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Article |
Free energy difference to create the M-OH* intermediate of the oxygen evolution reaction by time-resolved optical spectroscopy
Theoretical descriptors differentiate catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction by the strength of oxygen binding in the reactive intermediate created upon electron transfer. Picosecond optical spectra of the Ti-OH* population on doped SrTiO3 are now shown to be ordered by surface hydroxylation.
- Ilya Vinogradov
- , Suryansh Singh
- & Tanja Cuk
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Article |
Chemical vapour deposition of Fe–N–C oxygen reduction catalysts with full utilization of dense Fe–N4 sites
Replacing platinum with metal–nitrogen–carbon catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells has been impeded by low activity. These limitations have now been overcome by the trans-metalation of Zn–N4 sites into Fe–N4 sites.
- Li Jiao
- , Jingkun Li
- & Qingying Jia
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Article |
Oxygen-evolving catalytic atoms on metal carbides
Metal oxides or carbonaceous supported atomic metal sites coordinated by oxygen or heteroatoms exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity. Stabilization of single-atom catalysts on tungsten carbides without heteroatom coordination for efficient oxygen evolution reaction is demonstrated.
- Shuang Li
- , Bingbing Chen
- & Arne Thomas
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Article |
Development of a photoelectrochemically self-improving Si/GaN photocathode for efficient and durable H2 production
Development of efficient yet durable photoelectrodes is of paramount importance for deployment of solar-fuel production. The photoelectrochemically self-improving behaviour of a silicon/gallium nitride photocathode highly efficient for hydrogen production is now reported.
- Guosong Zeng
- , Tuan Anh Pham
- & Francesca M. Toma
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Article |
Microstructural origin of locally enhanced CO2 electroreduction activity on gold
Although bulk defects can influence the performance of electrocatalysts used for energy conversion, their structural origins are still unclear. The effects of bulk defects on CO2 electroreduction and H2 evolution activity on Au electrodes are now elucidated.
- Ruperto G. Mariano
- , Minkyung Kang
- & Matthew W. Kanan
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Article |
Fictitious phase separation in Li layered oxides driven by electro-autocatalysis
Although layered oxides electrodes in lithium-ion batteries are designed under conditions avoiding phase transitions, phase separation during delithiation has been observed. This apparent phase separation is shown to be a dynamical artefact occurring in a many-particle system driven by autocatalytic electrochemical reactions.
- Jungjin Park
- , Hongbo Zhao
- & William C. Chueh
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Article |
Tuning electrochemically driven surface transformation in atomically flat LaNiO3 thin films for enhanced water electrolysis
Structure–activity relationships built on descriptors of surfaces can help to design electrocatalysts, but their identification for electrochemically driven surface transformations is challenging. The composition of LaNiO3 thin film surfaces can now dictate surface transformation and activity of the oxygen evolution reaction.
- Christoph Baeumer
- , Jiang Li
- & William C. Chueh
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Article |
Self-supported Pt–CoO networks combining high specific activity with high surface area for oxygen reduction
A high oxygen reduction reaction activity can usually be realized by increasing platinum specific activity at the expense of active surface area. Self-supported platinum–cobalt-oxide networks combining high activity and surface area now promise a stable fuel-cell operation.
- Gustav W. Sievers
- , Anders W. Jensen
- & Matthias Arenz
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Article |
Eliminating dissolution of platinum-based electrocatalysts at the atomic scale
Deployment of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells is limited by the durability of Pt-nanoscale catalysts during cathodic oxygen reduction reactions. Dissolution processes on single crystalline and thin film surfaces are now correlated leading to the design of PtAu catalysts with suppressed dissolution.
- Pietro P. Lopes
- , Dongguo Li
- & Vojislav R. Stamenkovic
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Article |
P-block single-metal-site tin/nitrogen-doped carbon fuel cell cathode catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction
For oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation reactions, proton-exchange membrane fuel cells typically rely on precious-metal-based catalysts. A p-block single-metal-site tin/nitrogen-doped carbon is shown to exhibit promising electrocatalytic and fuel cell performance.
- Fang Luo
- , Aaron Roy
- & Peter Strasser
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Article |
Atomic-level tuning of Co–N–C catalyst for high-performance electrochemical H2O2 production
Producing H2O2 electrochemically currently use electrocatalysts that are insufficient to meet the demands for industrialization. A single-atom electrocatalyst with an optimized Co–N4 moiety incorporated in nitrogen-doped graphene is shown to exhibit enhanced performance for H2O2 production.
- Euiyeon Jung
- , Heejong Shin
- & Taeghwan Hyeon
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Letter |
Engineering stable electrocatalysts by synergistic stabilization between carbide cores and Pt shells
Using core–shell particles represents an effective design strategy for improving the performance of noble metal catalysts, but their stabilities can suffer during reactions. Atomically thin Pt shells are shown to stabilize titanium tungsten carbide cores, even at highly oxidizing potentials.
- Daniel Göhl
- , Aaron Garg
- & Marc Ledendecker
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Letter |
Zirconium nitride catalysts surpass platinum for oxygen reduction
Platinum catalysts are widely used for oxygen reduction reactions in electrochemical devices but scalability is restricted by scarcity, cost and vulnerability to poisoning. Zirconium nitride nanoparticles now exhibit an oxygen reduction performance with similar activity to that of Pt on carbon.
- Yao Yuan
- , Jiacheng Wang
- & Minghui Yang
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Article |
Nanoscale semiconductor/catalyst interfaces in photoelectrochemistry
Although nanocatalysts forming selective contacts are crucial in photoelectrochemistry, the underlying nanoscale interfaces are poorly understood. Using a n-Si/Ni photoanode and potential-sensing AFM, interfacial electron-transfer processes and photovoltage are measured.
- Forrest A. L. Laskowski
- , Sebastian Z. Oener
- & Shannon W. Boettcher
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Letter |
Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution
Metallic transition metal dichalcogenides are promising catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions but their performances are still lower than industrial Pt and Ir electrolysers. The metallic 2H phase of niobium disulfide now exhibits enhanced current densities versus a reversible hydrogen electrode.
- Jieun Yang
- , Abdul Rahman Mohmad
- & Manish Chhowalla
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Article |
Bio-inspired hydrophobicity promotes CO2 reduction on a Cu surface
Aqueous electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into alcohol and hydrocarbon fuels is a sustainable route towards energy-rich chemical feedstocks. A superhydrophobic surface of hierarchically structured Cu dendrites exhibits a significant increase in CO2 reduction selectivity.
- David Wakerley
- , Sarah Lamaison
- & Victor Mougel
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Article |
Self-gating in semiconductor electrocatalysis
The semiconductor–electrolyte interface dominates the behaviour of semiconductor electrocatalysts. Inspired by ion-controlled electronics a universal self-gating phenomenon is now proposed to explain transport modulation during electrocatalytic reaction.
- Yongmin He
- , Qiyuan He
- & Zheng Liu
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Article |
Mixed proton and electron conducting double perovskite anodes for stable and efficient tubular proton ceramic electrolysers
Proton ceramic electrolysers can produce hydrogen directly from steam, but their development has suffered from limited electrical efficiency. A fully operational and stable BaZrO3-based tubular electrolyser with high hydrogen production rate is now reported.
- Einar Vøllestad
- , Ragnar Strandbakke
- & Truls Norby
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Letter |
In situ probing electrified interfacial water structures at atomically flat surfaces
Interfacial water structures in electric double layers under bias potentials can impact the electrochemical performance of electrodes. Two structural transitions of interfacial water at electrified Au single-crystal electrode surfaces have now been identified.
- Chao-Yu Li
- , Jia-Bo Le
- & Zhong-Qun Tian
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Article |
Golden single-atomic-site platinum electrocatalysts
Bimetallic nanoparticles with tailored structure constitute a desirable model system for catalysts. PtAu nanoparticles with Pt single-atom surface sites, prepared by a colloidal method, exhibit unprecedented electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation.
- Paul N. Duchesne
- , Z. Y. Li
- & Peng Zhang
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Article |
Surface distortion as a unifying concept and descriptor in oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis
Tuning surface structure is key for electrocatalytic performance and stability of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. Surface distortion as a structural descriptor can help to clarify the role of surface defects and to design enhanced nanocatalysts.
- Raphaël Chattot
- , Olivier Le Bacq
- & Frédéric Maillard
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Editorial |
Hydrogen to the rescue
Large-scale, environmentally friendly hydrogen production will rely on steam methane reforming coupled with carbon capture and electrolysis, but solar fuels could have a disruptive role to play.
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Article |
Dynamic surface self-reconstruction is the key of highly active perovskite nano-electrocatalysts for water splitting
The development of robust and active anode materials for oxygen evolution reaction is challenging. Perovskite nanocatalysts with high mass activity towards water splitting and electronic structures changing drastically during operando conditions are reported.
- Emiliana Fabbri
- , Maarten Nachtegaal
- & Thomas J. Schmidt
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Article |
Real-time impedance monitoring of oxygen reduction during surface modification of thin film cathodes
Cathodes with enhanced catalytic activity for oxygen reduction are needed for solid oxide fuel cells. Although perovskite-type oxides typically suffer from performance degradation, high surface activity is now shown to be related to a few active sites.
- Ghislain M. Rupp
- , Alexander K. Opitz
- & Jürgen Fleig
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Review Article |
Energy and fuels from electrochemical interfaces
Advances in electrocatalysis at interfaces are vital for driving technological innovations related to energy. New materials developments for efficient hydrogen and oxygen production in electrolysers and in fuel cells are described.
- Vojislav R. Stamenkovic
- , Dusan Strmcnik
- & Nenad M. Markovic
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Article |
A multifunctional biphasic water splitting catalyst tailored for integration with high-performance semiconductor photoanodes
In photosynthesis the oxidation of water is a requirement for providing sufficient protons and electrons for fuel formation. A biphasic water splitting catalyst tailored for integration with high-performance semiconductor photoanodes is now reported.
- Jinhui Yang
- , Jason K. Cooper
- & Ian D. Sharp
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Article |
Nanoscale structural oscillations in perovskite oxides induced by oxygen evolution
Understanding interactions between water and oxides is crucial for energy storage and photocatalysis. The combined effect of water and electron irradiation on perovskite catalysts results in structural oscillation triggered by gaseous bubbles.
- Binghong Han
- , Kelsey A. Stoerzinger
- & Yang Shao-Horn
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Article |
Anisotropic phase segregation and migration of Pt in nanocrystals en route to nanoframe catalysts
Anisotropic phase segregation and migration of Pt in nanocrystals is important in designing enhanced catalysts. Insight into the mechanism of Pt–Ni rhombic dodecahedra growth may provide a way to produce nanocatalysts with improved performance.
- Zhiqiang Niu
- , Nigel Becknell
- & Peidong Yang
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Article |
The role of electronic coupling between substrate and 2D MoS2 nanosheets in electrocatalytic production of hydrogen
Increasing the edge concentration of metallic MoS2 nanosheets will improve their electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution. The activity of MoS2 can now be enhanced by facilitating electron injection from the electrode to the catalyst.
- Damien Voiry
- , Raymond Fullon
- & Manish Chhowalla
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Article |
Proton transfer dynamics control the mechanism of O2 reduction by a non-precious metal electrocatalyst
Controlling proton-coupled electron transfer reactions—an important process for fuel cells—can be challenging. Lipid-modified electrodes are now used to modulate proton transport to a Cu-based catalyst that facilitates oxygen reduction reactions.
- Edmund C. M. Tse
- , Christopher J. Barile
- & Andrew A. Gewirth
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Article |
Coordination polymer structure and revisited hydrogen evolution catalytic mechanism for amorphous molybdenum sulfide
Molybdenum sulfides are attractive electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The polymeric structure of amorphous molybdenum sulfide can now be formulated as a coordination polymer based on [Mo3S132−] clusters sharing disulfide ligands.
- Phong D. Tran
- , Thu V. Tran
- & Vincent Artero
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Commentary |
Anionic redox processes for electrochemical devices
Understanding and controlling anionic redox processes is pivotal for the design of new Li-ion battery and water-splitting materials.
- A. Grimaud
- , W. T. Hong
- & J.-M. Tarascon
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Article |
Water reduction by a p-GaInP2 photoelectrode stabilized by an amorphous TiO2 coating and a molecular cobalt catalyst
Producing hydrogen via solar water splitting with metal-based molecular catalysts offers scalability. An active p-GaInP2 photocathode stabilized by a TiO2 layer functionalized by a cobaloxime molecular catalyst is now reported for water reduction.
- Jing Gu
- , Yong Yan
- & John A. Turner