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Emerging Dual‐Channel Transition‐Metal‐Oxide Quasiaerogels by Self‐Embedded Templating
Author(s) -
Guo Hele,
Zhou Jun,
Li Qianqian,
Li Yueming,
Zong Wei,
Zhu Jixin,
Xu Jingsan,
Zhang Chao,
Liu Tianxi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202000024
Subject(s) - materials science , anode , oxygen evolution , battery (electricity) , cathode , oxide , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , electrolysis , transition metal , electrochemistry , catalysis , electrode , chemistry , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , metallurgy , biochemistry , electrolyte
The lack of precise control of particle sizes is the critical challenge in the assembly of 3D interconnected transition‐metal oxide (TMO) for newly‐emerging energy conversion devices. A self‐embedded templating strategy for preparing the TMO@carbon quasiaerogels (TMO@C‐QAs) is proposed. By mimicking an aerogel structure at a microscale, the TMO@C‐QA successfully assembles size‐controllable TMO nanoparticles into 3D interconnected structure with surface‐enriched carbon species. The morphological evolutions of intermediates verify that the self‐embedded Ostwald ripening templating approach is responsible for the dual‐channel TMO@C‐QA formation. The general self‐embedded templating strategy is easily extended to prepare various TMO@C‐QAs, including the Co 3 O 4 @C‐QA, Mn 3 O 4 @C‐QA, Fe 2 O 3 @C‐QA, and NiO@C‐QA. Benefiting from the unparalleled 3D interconnected network of aerogels, the Co 3 O 4 @C‐QA displays superior bifunctional catalytic activities for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as high specific capacity and excellent long‐term stability for lithium‐ion battery (LIB) anode. A proof‐of‐concept battery‐powered electrolyzer with Co 3 O 4 @C‐QA cathode and anode powered by a full LIB with Co 3 O 4 @C‐QA anode is presented. The battery‐powered electrolyzer made of the state‐of‐the‐art TMOs can exhibit great competitive advantages due to its supreme multifunctional energy conversion performance for future water electrolysis.