Electrospining Machine: Prof Xiaofeng Lu, Jilin University et al. EES: Modulation of the electronic structure of Ni(OH)2 by coupling with low-content Pt to promote energy-saving hydrogen production

Background

Replacing the high-potential oxygen precipitation reaction (OER) with the low-potential nucleophilic reagent oxidation reaction (NOR) is an important way to improve the hydrogen yield during water electrolysis. Based on this, Xiaofeng Lu from Jilin University & Mingbin Gao from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (DICP, CAS) collaborated to prepare low content Pt-anchored Ni(OH)2 on nickel-carbon Electrospun Nanofbers (Ni-CNF) surfaces for alkaline Urea Oxidation Reaction (UOR) electrocatalysis by electrospinning-electrodeposition strategy. The related research is described as ‘Modulating the electronic structure of Ni(OH)2 by coupling with low-content Pt for boosting the urea oxidation reaction enables Modulating the electronic structure of Ni(OH)2 by coupling with low-content Pt for boosting the urea oxidation reaction enables significantly promoted energy-saving hydrogen production’ was published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science (IF 32.5).

The main point of this paper

1.A low content of Pt-anchored Ni(OH)2 was prepared on nickel carbon nanofibre (Ni-CNF) surfaces for alkaline urea oxidation reaction (UOR) electrocatalysis by electrospinning-electrodeposition strategy and optimised by controlling the concentration of different deposition solutions during electrodeposition.

2.Due to the loading of Pt on the Ni(OH)2 surface, the dehydrogenation processes of Ni(OH)2 to Ni(OH)O and urea molecules to N2 and CO2 were promoted, and the optimised Pt-Ni (OH)2@Ni-CNFs-2 catalysts showed UOR performances at current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm-2 of 1.363 V and 1.422 V, which greatly improved the UOR performance.

The optimised Pt@Ni-CNFs-2 catalyst had excellent HER activity, and a homemade urea-assisted hydrolysis unit was constructed with Pt-Ni (OH)2@Ni-CNFs-2 and Pt@Ni-CNFs-2 catalysts as anode and cathode, respectively, at 1.40 V and 10 mA cm-2, which exceeded many reported representative urea assisted water decomposition electrolyser.

How urea is utilised in the production of hydrogen

1.In the hydrogen production process, urea is used as a high-potential nucleophilic reagent oxidation reaction (NOR) to replace the high-potential oxygen precipitation reaction (OER) in the electrolysis process.

2.The method aims to increase the hydrogen yield by using urea as a hydrogen source.

3.Urea has the potential to reduce the energy consumption of hydrogen production and can also be used to treat urea-rich wastewater.

This paper describes the use of Pt-anchored Ni(OH)2 surfaces to capture urea and increase the hydrogen production rate, providing a low-cost and suitable method for energy-efficient hydrogen production.

What is the role of Pt-anchored Ni(OH)2 in electrocatalysis?

1.Pt-anchored Ni(OH)2 plays a crucial role in the electrocatalytic process by promoting the alkaline urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and hydrogen precipitation reaction (HER).

2.Pt loading on the Ni(OH)2 surface promotes the processes of dehydrogenation of Ni(OH)2 to Ni(OH)O and dehydrogenation of urea molecules to N2 and CO2, which significantly improves the UOR performance at low potentials.

In addition, the Pt-anchored Ni(OH)2 also exhibited excellent HER activity, contributing to the overall efficiency of the electrocatalytic hydrogen production process.

Originallink: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EE03398H