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Superb Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution and Simultaneous Electricity Generation by Pt‐Decorated Ni 3 N Nanosheets
Author(s) -
Wang Yuhang,
Chen Long,
Yu Xiaomin,
Wang Yonggang,
Zheng Gengfeng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201601390
Subject(s) - nanosheet , overpotential , tafel equation , materials science , electrocatalyst , hydrogen production , water splitting , catalysis , hydrogen , chemical engineering , oxygen evolution , anode , alkaline water electrolysis , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , electrolysis , electrochemistry , electrode , electrolyte , chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , photocatalysis , engineering
The development of efficient hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts is critical to the realization of clean hydrogen fuel production, while the sluggish kinetics of the Volmer‐step substantially restricts the catalyst performances in alkali electrolyzers, even for noble metal catalysts such as Pt. Here, a Pt‐decorated Ni 3 N nanosheet electrocatalyst is developed to achieve a top performance of hydrogen evolution in alkaline conditions. Possessing a high metallic conductivity and an atomic‐thin semiconducting hydroxide surface, the Ni 3 N nanosheets serve as not only an efficient electron pathway without the hindrance of Schottky barriers, but also provide abundant active sites for water dissociation and generation of hydrogen intermediates, which are further adsorbed on the Pt surface to recombine to H 2 . The Pt‐decorated Ni 3 N nanosheet catalyst exhibits a hydrogen evolution current density of 200 mA cm −2 at an overpotential of 160 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode, a Tafel slope of ≈36.5 mV dec −1 , and excellent stability of 82.5% current retention after 24 h of operation. Moreover, a hybrid cell consisting of a Pt‐decorated Ni 3 N nanosheet cathode and a Li‐metal anode is assembled to achieve simultaneous hydrogen evolution and electricity generation, exhibiting >60 h long‐term hydrogen evolution reaction stability and an output voltage ranging from 1.3 to 2.2 V.