Engineering Multilevel Collaborative Catalytic Interfaces with Multifunctional Iron Sites Enabling High-Performance...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Seawater electrolysis offers an economical route for hydrogen production due to abundant seawater resources.
• Challenges include chlorine evolution and anode corrosion, hindering efficiency in direct seawater electrolysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional catalyst for efficient and stable seawater electrolysis.
• To engineer collaborative catalytic interfaces for enhanced hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of porous metal nitride/phosphide heterostructures on Ni2P surfaces with iron sites.
• Utilized theoretical calculations to understand catalytic mechanisms.
• Tested the catalyst's performance in alkaline seawater electrolysis.

Main Results:

• The Fe2P/Ni1.5Co1.5N/Ni2P catalyst demonstrated excellent bifunctional activity for seawater splitting.
• Achieved low cell voltages (1.624 V at 100 mA/cm2) and high stability.
• Outperformed existing non-noble catalysts and benchmark electrodes.

Conclusions:

• Engineered catalytic interfaces effectively suppress undesirable reactions and corrosion.
• The developed catalyst presents a promising strategy for high-performance, non-noble catalysts in green hydrogen production from seawater.