Open AccessHighly Active and Abundant MAB Phases Ni n +1 ZnB n ( n = 1, 2) toward Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Rezaie Amir A.,
Lee Eunsoo,
Yapo Johan A.,
Fokwa Boniface P. T.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced energy and sustainability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2699-9412
DOI - 10.1002/aesr.202100052
Subject(s) - density functional theory , hydrogen , materials science , nitride , crystallite , max phases , carbide , crystallography , nanotechnology , chemistry , metallurgy , computational chemistry , organic chemistry , layer (electronics)
Whilst MXenes (2D carbides and nitrides) have become highly popular in several research fields including the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), unfortunately they are not competitive HER electrocatalysts in their bulk form (MAX phases). The related MAB (2D‐like bulk borides) phases and the derived 2D MBenes, however, are less studied but show better HER properties. Herein, two highly HER‐active and abundant MAB phases, Ni n +1 ZnB n ( n = 1, 2), are studied experimentally and computationally. The pressed pellet electrodes from bulk polycrystalline powders of these phases drive a current density of 10 mA cm −2 at impressive overpotentials of η 10 = −0.171 V ( n = 1) and η 10 = −0.145 V ( n = 2) to efficiently produce hydrogen. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations prove that the most active site is the hollow site on the nickel basal plane, showing a free energy value comparable to that of the hollow site of Pt (111). This study paves the way for further development of bulk and nanoscale MAB phases for clean energy applications.