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Oxidation Numbers

Oxidation Numbers

In redox reactions, the transfer of electrons occurs between reacting species. Electron transfer is described by a hypothetical number called the oxidation number (or oxidation state). It represents the effective charge of an atom or element, which is assigned using a set of rules.

Alkali Metals

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements are soft and shiny metallic solids. They are malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. The melting points of the alkali metals are unusually low for metals and decrease going down the group, while the density increases going down the group with the exception of potassium (Table 1).
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals

Metal-Ligand Bonds

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

Metallic Solids

Metallic Solids

Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Oxidation–Reduction Reactions

Properties of Transition Metals

Properties of Transition Metals

Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.

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Related Experiment Video

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Synthesis of Hierarchical ZnO/CdSSe Heterostructure Nanotrees

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Published on: November 29, 2016

Hierarchically heterostructured metal hydr(oxy)oxides for efficient overall water splitting.

Yang Liu¹, Fengmei Wang, Tofik Ahmed Shifa

¹CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China. hej@nanoctr.cn.

|June 11, 2019

Summary

Researchers developed a novel hierarchical heterostructure using non-precious metals for efficient overall water splitting. This advanced electrocatalyst demonstrates superior activity and stability in alkaline media, paving the way for large-scale energy applications.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Electrochemistry
Catalysis

Background:

Efficient electrocatalysts are vital for water splitting, a key process for renewable energy.
Non-precious metal catalysts are sought after for their cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
Janus catalysts, which facilitate both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), are highly desirable for overall water splitting.

Purpose of the Study:

To design and fabricate a novel hierarchical heterostructure electrocatalyst using non-precious metals.
To investigate the electrocatalytic activity and stability of the fabricated heterostructure for overall water splitting in alkaline media.
To explore the potential of this catalyst for large-scale energy applications.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a hierarchical heterostructure by growing Ni4W6O21(OH)2·4H2O (Ni-W-O) nanosheets on NiMoO4 rods.
Characterization of the heterostructure's morphology and composition.
Electrochemical testing of the Ni-W-O/NiMoO4 heterostructure for overall water splitting in 1.0 M KOH.

Main Results:

The Ni-W-O/NiMoO4 hierarchical heterostructure exhibited superior bifunctional electrocatalytic activity for overall water splitting.
The catalyst achieved a current density of 30 mA cm-2 at a low potential of 1.6 V in 1.0 M KOH.
The heterostructure demonstrated remarkable stability during continuous water splitting, outperforming existing bifunctional electrocatalysts.

Conclusions:

The controlled growth of hierarchical heterostructures is an effective strategy for developing high-performance non-noble-metal electrocatalysts.
The Ni-W-O/NiMoO4 heterostructure shows significant promise as a cost-effective and efficient catalyst for large-scale water splitting and renewable energy production.
This work highlights the potential of rationally designed non-precious metal catalysts for energy conversion reactions.