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Intercalating MnO 2 Nanosheets With Transition Metal Cations to Enhance Oxygen Evolution
Author(s) -
Yang Yue,
Su Xingsong,
Zhang Lei,
Kerns Peter,
Achola Laura,
Hayes Veronica,
Quardokus Rebecca,
Suib Steven L.,
He Jie
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201802019
Subject(s) - intercalation (chemistry) , overpotential , catalysis , oxygen evolution , transition metal , oxygen , metal , octahedron , inorganic chemistry , materials science , molecule , ion exchange , chemical engineering , chemistry , ion , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , engineering , metallurgy
The catalytic activity of MnO 2 nanosheets towards oxygen evolution depends highly on their interlayer environment. We present a systematic investigation on fine‐tuning of the interlayer environment of MnO 2 nanosheets by intercalation through a facile cation exchange with inexpensive first‐row transition metal cations, including Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , and Fe 3+ ions. Among them, the Ni‐intercalated MnO 2 nanosheets show remarkably enhanced OER activity and long‐term stability, compared to pristine MnO 2 nanosheets. The overpotential of 330 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 is observed for the Ni‐intercalated MnO 2 nanosheets. The ehancement mechanism of OER is studied by comparing physiochemical properties, such as the oxidation state of Mn, the interlayer distance, the increase in the disorder/twisting of MnO 6 octahedra, and the interlayer cooperative binding of water molecules. The Ni intercalation, different from other metal cations, strengthens the Mn−O bond perpendicularly to the layer chains to facilitate the interlayer catalysis possibly between two Mn sites, and thus promotes the efficiency of oxygen evolution.