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Hydrogel‐Derived Honeycomb Ni 3 S 4 /N,P‐C as an Efficient Oxygen Evolution Catalyst
Author(s) -
Hu Xuejiao,
Li Tiancheng,
Tang Yidan,
Wang Yirong,
Wang Ao,
Fu Gengtao,
Li Xiaodong,
Tang Yawen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201901063
Subject(s) - carbonization , materials science , chemical engineering , catalysis , carbon fibers , oxygen evolution , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , composite number , composite material , scanning electron microscope , engineering
The development of high‐efficiency electrocatalysts with low costs for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential, but remains challenging. Herein, a new synthetic process is proposed to prepare Ni 3 S 4 particles embedded in N,P‐codoped honeycomb porous carbon aerogels (Ni 3 S 4 /N,P‐HPC) through a hydrogel approach. The preparation of Ni 3 S 4 /N,P‐HPC begins with the sol–gel polymerization of tripolyphosphate, chitosan, and guanidine polymer that contains metal‐binding sites, allowing for the uniform incorporation of Ni ions into the gel matrix, freeze‐drying, and subsequent carbonization under an inert atmosphere. This synthesis resolves difficulties in synthesizing the pure Ni 3 S 4 phase caused by the instability of Ni 3 S 4 at high temperature, while affording good control of the porous structure and N,P‐doping of carbon aerogels. The synergy between the structural advantages of N,P‐carbon aerogels (such as easily accessible active sites, high specific surface area, and excellent electron transport) and the intrinsic electrochemical properties of Ni 3 S 4 result in the outstanding OER performance of Ni 3 S 4 /N,P‐HPC, with overpotentials as low as 0.37 V at 10 mA cm −2 . The work outlined herein offers a simple and effective method for the development of carbon‐based electrocatalysts for renewable energy conversion.