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Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Author Spotlight: A Rapid, Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis Of Nickel Hydroxide Nanosheets
Published on: August 18, 2023
Se self-doped Ni(OH)2 for an efficient urea oxidation reaction.
Shenyi Song1, Xingyu Huang1, Yun Yang2
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002, P. R. China. ligang.feng@yzu.edu.cn.
Selenium-doped Nickel hydroxide (Se-Ni(OH)2) significantly boosts urea oxidation catalysis. This improvement stems from better urea adsorption and reduced poisoning by lowering the carbon dioxide adsorption energy barrier.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is crucial for energy conversion technologies.
- Nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) based materials are promising electrocatalysts for UOR.
- Catalyst poisoning and low activity remain challenges for Ni(OH)2 in UOR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of selenium (Se) doping on the catalytic performance of Nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) for urea oxidation.
- To understand the mechanism behind the enhanced activity and stability of Se-doped Ni(OH)2.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Se-doped Ni(OH)2 electrocatalysts.
- Electrochemical characterization of catalytic performance for urea oxidation.
- Computational analysis to study adsorption energies and reaction pathways.
Main Results:
- Se-doped Ni(OH)2 exhibited significantly improved catalytic activity for urea oxidation compared to pristine Ni(OH)2.
- Enhanced urea molecule adsorption on the Se-Ni(OH)2 electrode was observed.
- The poisoning effect was weakened, attributed to a reduced energy barrier for CO2 adsorption.
Conclusions:
- Selenium doping is an effective strategy to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of Ni(OH)2 for urea oxidation.
- The improved performance is linked to enhanced substrate adsorption and mitigated poisoning effects.
- Se-doped Ni(OH)2 shows great potential for applications in electrochemical energy conversion.
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