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Induced dipole moments in amorphous ZnCdS catalysts facilitate photocatalytic H2 evolution
The rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers is a key challenge for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Here, the authors report an amorphous ZnCdS to break the symmetry of atom arrangement that induces strong dipole fields, thus providing extra driving forces for charge separation.
- Xin Wang
- , Boyan Liu
- & Songcan Wang
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| Open Access
Stable water splitting using photoelectrodes with a cryogelated overlayer
Photoelectrodes made of earth-abundant materials can contribute to low-cost and carbon-free hydrogen production, but suffer from a short lifetime. Here the authors report cryogel overlayer to increase the operation time of the device by regulating evolving hydrogen bubble dynamics.
- Byungjun Kang
- , Jeiwan Tan
- & Hyungsuk Lee
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| Open Access
Green electrosynthesis of 3,3’-diamino-4,4’-azofurazan energetic materials coupled with energy-efficient hydrogen production over Pt-based catalysts
The hybrid water electrolysis system enables a potential for high-efficiency H2 production. Here, the authors propose an electrosynthesis of azo-energetic material coupled with water electrolysis, realizing energy-saving H2 production and obtaining azo-energetic materials via a green pathway.
- Jiachen Li
- , Yuqiang Ma
- & Jieshan Qiu
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Stabilizing ruthenium dioxide with cation-anchored sulfate for durable oxygen evolution in proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers
Designing stable Ru-based catalysts for acidic oxygen evolution remains a challenge. Here, the authors propose an oxyanion protection strategy to prevent the formation of oxygen vacancies on the RuO2 surface by creating coordination-saturated lattice oxygen, thereby greatly enhancing the stability.
- Yanrong Xue
- , Jiwu Zhao
- & Xu Lu
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Single-crystal ZrCo nanoparticle for advanced hydrogen and H-isotope storage
ZrCo, a promising hydrogen isotope storage material, has poor cyclic storage capacity. Here author reveal a defect-derived disproportionation mechanism and report a nano-single-crystal strategy to comprehensively improve performances.
- Zhenyang Li
- , Shiyuan Liu
- & Jianglan Shui
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| Open Access
Corrosion-resistant cobalt phosphide electrocatalysts for salinity tolerance hydrogen evolution
Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production is limited by the poor salinity tolerance of catalysts. CoP was found to repel chlorine while attracting H2O molecules to form a thin layer on the catalyst surface, thus constructing a corrosion-resistant CoP/rGO@Ti catalyst for seawater splitting.
- Xinwu Xu
- , Yang Lu
- & Yibo He
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| Open Access
Synergistic effects of mixing and strain in high entropy spinel oxides for oxygen evolution reaction
Efficient and durable electrocatalysts are essential for boosting oxygen evolution reaction toward hydrogen production. Here, the authors report a combined theoretical and experimental study on high-entropy spinel oxide with element mixing and strains providing superior activity and stability.
- Jihyun Baek
- , Md Delowar Hossain
- & Xiaolin Zheng
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| Open Access
Turing structuring with multiple nanotwins to engineer efficient and stable catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction
Developing new electrocatalysts for hydrogen production is of high interests. Here the authors report PtNiNb with high-density nanotwins and large strain as hydrogen evolution catalysts in anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyser.
- Jialun Gu
- , Lanxi Li
- & Jian Lu
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| Open Access
Ionomer-free and recyclable porous-transport electrode for high-performing proton-exchange-membrane water electrolysis
The supply of iridium is likely to become a bottleneck for hydrogen production. Here, authors develop ionomer-free porous transport electrodes with low iridium loading designed to improve manufacturability and recyclability of electrodes for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers.
- Jason K. Lee
- , Grace Anderson
- & Xiong Peng
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| Open Access
An electron-hole rich dual-site nickel catalyst for efficient photocatalytic overall water splitting
Vast majority of photocatalysts for hydrogen production relies on additional sacrificial agents and noble metal cocatalysts. It is of great importance yet challenging to achieve photocatalytic overall water splitting with decent performance. Here, the authors report Ni2P based photocatalyst assisted by H2O2-craking reaction for overall water splitting with H2 and O2 production of 1507 μmol h−1 g−1 H2 and 702 μmol h−1 g−1.
- Xiaoqing Yan
- , Mengyang Xia
- & Guidong Yang
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| Open Access
Diversity of platinum-sites at platinum/fullerene interface accelerates alkaline hydrogen evolution
One major technological obstacle for membrane-based alkaline water electrolyzer is the inefficient hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, the authors report a platinum/fullerene heterostructure catalyst, which shows enhanced activity for hydrogen production due to the diverse interface between platinum and fullerene.
- Jiayi Chen
- , Mohammed Aliasgar
- & Lei Wang
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| Open Access
Life cycle net energy assessment of sustainable H2 production and hydrogenation of chemicals in a coupled photoelectrochemical device
Integrating green hydrogen production with the generation of valuable chemicals has the potential to increase the competitiveness of the system. Here, the authors quantitatively evaluate the energetic benefit of coupling hydrogen production with the hydrogenation of feedstocks in a photoelectrochemical device.
- Xinyi Zhang
- , Michael Schwarze
- & Fatwa F. Abdi
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| Open Access
Integrated interfacial design of covalent organic framework photocatalysts to promote hydrogen evolution from water
Attempts to develop hydrogen evolution photocatalysts usually result in low efficiency. Here the authors report a photocatalyst system by integrated interfacial design of stable covalent organic frameworks for high performance hydrogen evolution.
- Ting He
- , Wenlong Zhen
- & Donglin Jiang
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Risk of the hydrogen economy for atmospheric methane
H2 has the potential to become the green, low-carbon fuel of the future. However, hydrogen emissions impact atmospheric methane (CH4). Bertagni et al. investigate the fate of atmospheric CH4 in scenarios of H2 economy.
- Matteo B. Bertagni
- , Stephen W. Pacala
- & Amilcare Porporato
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Bias-free solar hydrogen production at 19.8 mA cm−2 using perovskite photocathode and lignocellulosic biomass
While light-driven water splitting offers a means to produce renewable H2 fuel, water oxidation limits performances and yields low-value products. Here, authors demonstrate a photoelectrochemical cell that converts lignocellulosic biomass into valuable products alongside H2.
- Yuri Choi
- , Rashmi Mehrotra
- & Jungki Ryu
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Hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne encapsulated cuprous oxide photocathode for efficient and stable photoelectrochemical water reduction
Cu2O-based photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water reduction suffer severe self-photo-corrosion issue. Here the authors report an in-situ encapsulation strategy with hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne to protect Cu2O for water reduction with a photocurrent density of −12.88 mA cm-2.
- Xue Zhou
- , Baihe Fu
- & Zhonghai Zhang
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| Open Access
Main-chain engineering of polymer photocatalysts with hydrophilic non-conjugated segments for visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution
The introduction of hydrophilic segments into the main-chain of polymer photocatalysts allows water to efficiently enter the interior through these hydrophilic segments, and results in effective water/polymer interfaces for hydrogen evolution.
- Chih-Li Chang
- , Wei-Cheng Lin
- & Ho-Hsiu Chou
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Hydrogen production from the air
While obtaining H2 from water splitting offers a promising strategy for renewable fuel production, current technologies rely on liquid freshwater. Here, authors use a hygroscopic electrolyte to achieve electrocatalytic water vapor splitting driven by renewable resources without liquid water.
- Jining Guo
- , Yuecheng Zhang
- & Gang Kevin Li
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Insights into the activity of nickel boride/nickel heterostructures for efficient methanol electrooxidation
Understanding the role of active sites in electrooxidation reactions is important yet challenging. Here, the authors use operando spectroscopies to monitor the effect of methanol concentration on Ni3B/Ni heterostructures during formate production.
- Yanbin Qi
- , Yue Zhang
- & Chunzhong Li
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| Open Access
A high-performance capillary-fed electrolysis cell promises more cost-competitive renewable hydrogen
Water electrolysis offers a promising means for green hydrogen production, however current electrolysers do not provide a competitive edge over fossil fuels. Here, authors develop a capillary-fed electrolyser setup that avoids bubble formation to achieve a high-performance, cost-competitive device.
- Aaron Hodges
- , Anh Linh Hoang
- & Gordon G. Wallace
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Gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunction photoanode improves both photocurrents and turn-on voltage for solar water splitting
Solar-to-fuel conversion represents a renewable means to harvest sunlight, but the most efficient materials are often expensive or rare. Here, authors demonstrate gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunctions as a method to improve photoelectrochemical water splitting performances.
- Hemin Zhang
- , Dongfeng Li
- & Jae Sung Lee
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| Open Access
Implanting Ni-O-VOx sites into Cu-doped Ni for low-overpotential alkaline hydrogen evolution
Producing H2 from water using electricity and earth-abundant elements is necessary for worldwide renewable fuel production, yet most electrocatalysts have sluggish activities or poor stabilities. Here, authors show vanadium oxide modified copper-doped nickel to enable active and durable H2 evolution.
- Yibing Li
- , Xin Tan
- & Chuan Zhao
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| Open Access
Reactant friendly hydrogen evolution interface based on di-anionic MoS2 surface
H2 energy as an alternative to fossil fuels requires cost-effective catalysts with fast kinetics for splitting water. Here, authors design MoS2 materials with di-anionic surfaces to improve the electrocatalytic H2 evolution activities.
- Zhaoyan Luo
- , Hao Zhang
- & Junjie Ge
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| Open Access
Pt-O bond as an active site superior to Pt0 in hydrogen evolution reaction
While converting water to H2 with a catalyst offers a renewable means to produce carbon-neutral fuels, understanding the catalytic active sites has proven challenging. Here, authors show a structurally well-defined model complex with Pt-O bonding to enable efficient H2 evolution electrocatalysis.
- Fei-Yang Yu
- , Zhong-Ling Lang
- & Yang-Guang Li
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Nickel-molybdenum nitride nanoplate electrocatalysts for concurrent electrolytic hydrogen and formate productions
Hydrogen production by electrocatalytic water splitting is limited by the sluggish evolution kinetics of low value-oxygen. Here, authors show concurrent electrolytic productions of H2 and glycerol oxidation to formate by utilizing Ni-Mo-N/CFC electro-catalyst as both anodic and cathodic catalysts.
- Yan Li
- , Xinfa Wei
- & Mingyuan He
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Atomic layer deposited Pt-Ru dual-metal dimers and identifying their active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction
Atomically precise control over elemental distributions presents a challenge in the preparation of catalytic nanomaterials. Here the authors report Pt-Ru bimetallic dimer structures through atomic layer deposition process and identify the roles of Pt and Ru in hydrogen evolution reaction.
- Lei Zhang
- , Rutong Si
- & Xueliang Sun
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| Open Access
Cyclic two-step electrolysis for stable electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to formate
Reduction of carbon dioxide is promising for the production of value-added chemicals, but electrocatalysts are hindered by carbon monoxide poisoning. Here, the authors alternate reduction and oxidation potentials to achieve stable and selective long-term electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to formate.
- Chan Woo Lee
- , Nam Heon Cho
- & Byoung Koun Min
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Nitrogen-plasma treated hafnium oxyhydroxide as an efficient acid-stable electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions
Renewable hydrogen technologies are promising for alternative energy, but are encumbered by the kinetics of electrochemical reactions in harsh conditions. Here, authors report nitrogen-modified hafnium oxyhydroxide for electrocatalysis of hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions in acidic media.
- Xiaofang Yang
- , Fang Zhao
- & Bruce E. Koel
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Boundary activated hydrogen evolution reaction on monolayer MoS2
While water-splitting electrocatalysts enable energy storage in carbon-neutral fuels, a recent challenge has been the discovery and understanding of catalyst active sites. Here, authors find domain boundaries in MoS2 materials to present high-activity, stable, and scalable sites for H2 evolution.
- Jianqi Zhu
- , Zhi-Chang Wang
- & Guangyu Zhang
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| Open Access
Atomically engineering activation sites onto metallic 1T-MoS2 catalysts for enhanced electrochemical hydrogen evolution
While heterogeneous catalysts can act as tangible, efficient materials for energy conversion, understanding the active catalytic sites is challenging. Here, authors engineer specific catalytic sites into molybdenum sulfide to improve and elucidate hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis.
- Yichao Huang
- , Yuanhui Sun
- & Jing Gu
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| Open Access
Interfacing nickel nitride and nickel boosts both electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions
Efficient hydrogen production and utilization materials will be crucial in order to compete with fossil fuel technologies. Here, authors report nickel and nickel nitride interfaces as effected catalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxidation in water.
- Fuzhan Song
- , Wei Li
- & Yujie Sun
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| Open Access
Electrochemical generation of sulfur vacancies in the basal plane of MoS2 for hydrogen evolution
In order to fully utilize sulfur vacancies in MoS2 catalysts for industrial applications, a facile and general route for making sulfur vacancies in MoS2 is needed. Here, the authors introduce a scalable route towards generating sulfur vacancies on the MoS2basal plane using electrochemical desulfurization.
- Charlie Tsai
- , Hong Li
- & Frank Abild-Pedersen
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| Open Access
Hybrid bio-photo-electro-chemical cells for solar water splitting
Photoelectrochemical water splitting uses solar power to decompose water to hydrogen and oxygen. Here, the authors integrate thylakoid membranes extracted from spinach into a bio-photo-electro-chemical cell capable of overall water splitting without the need for any sacrificial reagents.
- Roy I. Pinhassi
- , Dan Kallmann
- & Avner Rothschild
Highly efficient anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers via chromium-doped amorphous electrocatalysts