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Published on: June 9, 2023
Tuning Electronic Structures of Transition Metal Carbides to Boost Oxygen Evolution Reactions in Acidic Medium
Min Feng1, Jingle Huang1, Yang Peng1
1Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Materials and Energy Storage Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Energy Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
Developing novel nonprecious metal electrocatalysts, fluorine-doped bimetallic carbides (TiTaF2C2) supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO), significantly enhance oxygen evolution reactions (OER) for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEM-WE). These catalysts exhibit superior activity and durability compared to iridium catalysts.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEM-WE) require efficient, low-cost electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER) in acidic media.
- Transition metal carbides (TMCs) possess platinum-like electronic structures but exhibit limited OER activity in acidic conditions.
- Monometallic carbides show negligible OER performance, necessitating strategies for activity enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop advanced nonprecious metal electrocatalysts for OER in acidic environments.
- To enhance the catalytic activity and durability of transition metal carbides for PEM-WE applications.
- To investigate the effect of bimetallic composition and fluorine doping on carbide electrocatalyst performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of bimetallic carbides (TiTaC2) via hydrothermal treatment followed by annealing.
- Fluorine doping into bimetallic carbides to create TiTaF2C2.
- Supporting TiTaF2C2 nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (rGO).
- Electrocatalytic performance testing for OER, including onset potential, overpotential, Tafel slope, and durability.
- Structural characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- The synthesized TiTaF2C2 NP/rGO demonstrated state-of-the-art OER catalytic activity, outperforming Ir/C.
- Achieved an onset potential of 1.42 V vs RHE and an overpotential of 490 mV to reach 100 mA cm-2.
- Exhibited fast kinetics with a Tafel slope of 36 mV dec-1 and excellent durability, maintaining current density for 40 hours at 1.60 V vs RHE.
- DFT calculations confirmed tuning of electronic structures in bimetallic carbides.
Conclusions:
- Fluorine-doped bimetallic carbides (TiTaF2C2) represent highly active and durable nonprecious metal electrocatalysts for OER.
- The developed TiTaF2C2 NP/rGO catalyst is a promising alternative to precious metal catalysts like Ir/C for PEM-WE.
- Tuning electronic structures through bimetallic composition and fluorine doping is a viable strategy for enhancing OER performance.
