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Integrating Catalysis of Methane Decomposition and Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with Ni/CeO 2 for Improved Hydrogen Production Efficiency
Author(s) -
Zhang Cai,
Zhang Wei,
Drewett Nicholas E.,
Wang Xiyang,
Yoo Seung Jo,
Wang Haoxiang,
Deng Ting,
Kim JinGyu,
Chen Hong,
Huang Keke,
Feng Shouhua,
Zheng Weitao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201802618
Subject(s) - hydrogen production , materials science , electrocatalyst , catalysis , methane , chemical engineering , hydrogen , electrolysis , decomposition , nanoparticle , inorganic chemistry , steam reforming , carbon fibers , electrode , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , chemistry , composite number , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering , electrolyte
Ni/CeO 2 enables either methane decomposition or water electrolysis for pure hydrogen production. Ni/CeO 2 , prepared by a sol–gel method with only one heat treatment step, was used to catalyze methane decomposition for the generation of H 2 . The solid byproduct, Ni/CeO 2 /carbon nanotube (CNT), was further employed as an electrocatalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for H 2 production. The Ni/CeO 2 catalyst exhibits excellent activity for methane decomposition because CeO 2 prevents carbon encapsulation of Ni nanoparticles during the preparation process and forms a special metal–support interface with Ni. The derived CNTs act as antenna to improve conductivity and promote the dispersion of agglomerated Ni/CeO 2 . In addition, they provide H 2 diffusion paths and prevent Ni/CeO 2 from peeling off the HER electrode. Although long‐term methane decomposition reduces the HER activity of Ni/CeO 2 /CNTs (owing to degradation of the delicate Ni/CeO 2 interface), the tunable nature of the synthesis makes this an attractive sustainable approach to synthesize future high‐performance materials.