Volume 61, Issue 2 e202113082
Research Article

Dual Nanoislands on Ni/C Hybrid Nanosheet Activate Superior Hydrazine Oxidation-Assisted High-Efficiency H2 Production

Yin Zhu

Yin Zhu

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Dr. Jihua Zhang

Dr. Jihua Zhang

Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Computational Nano-Material Science, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550018 P. R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Qizhu Qian

Qizhu Qian

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Yapeng Li

Yapeng Li

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

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Ziyun Li

Ziyun Li

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

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Yi Liu

Yi Liu

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

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Prof. Chong Xiao

Corresponding Author

Prof. Chong Xiao

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031 P. R. China

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Prof. Genqiang Zhang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Genqiang Zhang

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

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Prof. Yi Xie

Corresponding Author

Prof. Yi Xie

Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 P. R. China

Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031 P. R. China

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First published: 20 October 2021
Citations: 121

Graphical Abstract

A Ni/C hybrid nanosheet array with dual-active nanoisland sites is reported. One type of island represents the bare Ni particle surface, the other consists of core–shell Ni@C structures (denoted as Ni-C HNSA). The catalyst achieves efficient hydrogen production in an overall hydrazine splitting, showing its potential for practical applications.

Abstract

Clean hydrogen evolution through electrochemical water splitting underpins various innovative approaches to the pursuit of sustainable energy conversion technologies, but it is blocked by the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) has been considered as one of the most promising substitute for OER to improve the efficiency of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we construct novel dual nanoislands on Ni/C hybrid nanosheet array: one kind of island represents the part of bare Ni particle surface, while the other stands for the part of core–shell Ni@C structure (denoted as Ni-C HNSA), in which exposed Ni atoms and Ni-decorated carbon shell perform as active sites for HzOR and HER respectively. As a result, when the current density reaches 10 mA cm−2, the working potentials are merely −37 mV for HER and -20 mV for HzOR. A two-electrode electrolyzer exhibits superb activity that only requires an ultrasmall cell voltage of 0.14 V to achieve 50 mA cm−2.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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