Volume 20, Issue 26 2309655
Research Article

Nitrogen and Sulfur Co-Doped Carbon-Coated Ni3S2/MoO2 Nanowires as Bifunctional Catalysts for Alkaline Seawater Electrolysis

Xiaocheng Fan

Xiaocheng Fan

Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China

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Bei Li

Bei Li

College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China

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Chunling Zhu

Corresponding Author

Chunling Zhu

Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Feng Yan

Corresponding Author

Feng Yan

College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Xitian Zhang

Xitian Zhang

Key Laboratory for Photonic and Electronic Bandgap Materials, Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025 China

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Yujin Chen

Corresponding Author

Yujin Chen

Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China

College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 20 January 2024
Citations: 29

Abstract

Bifunctional catalysts have inherent advantages in simplifying electrolysis devices and reducing electrolysis costs. Developing efficient and stable bifunctional catalysts is of great significance for industrial hydrogen production. Herein, a bifunctional catalyst, composed of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon-coated trinickel disulfide (Ni3S2)/molybdenum dioxide (MoO2) nanowires (NiMoS@NSC NWs), is developed for seawater electrolysis. The designed NiMoS@NSC exhibited high activity in alkaline electrolyte with only 52 and 191 mV overpotential to attain 10 mA cm−2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Significantly, the electrolyzer (NiMoS@NSC||NiMoS@NSC) based on this bifunctional catalyst drove 100 mA cm−2 at only 1.71 V along with a robust stability over 100 h in alkaline seawater, which is superior to a platinum/nickel-iron layered double hydroxide couple (Pt||NiFe LDH). Theoretical calculations indicated that interfacial interactions between Ni3S2 and MoO2 rearranged the charge at interfaces and endowed Mo sites at the interfaces with Pt-like HER activity, while Ni sites on Ni3S2 surfaces at non-interfaces are the active centers for OER. Meanwhile, theoretical calculations and experimental results also demonstrated that interfacial interactions improved the electrical conductivity, boosting reaction kinetics for both HER and OER. This study presented a novel insight into the design of high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts for seawater splitting.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Research data are not shared.

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