Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
08:40
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
4.4K
Amorphous vanadium-doped iron borate/tetraboride hybrid as an efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution
Tanbir Ahmed1,2, Santanu Pal1,2, Nibedita Sinha1,2
1Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India. poulomiroy@yahoo.com.
Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
|March 10, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel iron borate and iron tetraboride electrocatalyst for economical hydrogen production. This advanced material efficiently facilitates the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with remarkable stability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Economical hydrogen production is crucial for a sustainable energy future.
- The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key bottleneck in electrochemical water splitting.
- Developing cost-effective and efficient electrocatalysts is essential to overcome OER challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a novel, inexpensive electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
- To investigate the effect of vanadium doping on the structural and electrocatalytic properties of iron borate and iron tetraboride (Fe-BO/FeB).
- To evaluate the performance and stability of the developed electrocatalyst for hydrogen production.
Main Methods:
- Facile chemical reduction process to synthesize Fe-BO/FeB.
- Optimized vanadium doping to induce amorphous structure.
- Electrochemical characterization in alkaline electrolyte (1 M KOH) to assess OER performance.
- Long-term stability testing.
Main Results:
- The optimized vanadium-doped Fe-BO/FeB exhibited an amorphous structure, beneficial for OER.
- Achieved low overpotentials of 215 mV and 256 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively.
- Demonstrated excellent stability over 48 hours, maintaining 200 mA cm-2.
- Observed smaller activation energies for the optimized sample compared to the pristine catalyst.
Conclusions:
- The vanadium-doped Fe-BO/FeB is a highly effective and stable electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction.
- This novel material presents a promising alternative to expensive conventional electrocatalysts for economical hydrogen production.
- The amorphous structure induced by vanadium doping plays a significant role in enhancing electrocatalytic activity.
Related Concept Videos
02:21Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Potassium Permanganate
17.5K
Alkenes can be dihydroxylated using potassium permanganate. The method encompasses the reaction of an alkene with a cold, dilute solution of potassium permanganate under basic conditions to form a cis-diol along with a brown precipitate of manganese dioxide.
17.5K
01:26Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
3.1K
Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.
3.1K
01:22Heterogeneous Catalysis
51
Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
51
02:44Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
13.2K
Alkenes are converted to 1,2-diols or glycols through a process called dihydroxylation. It involves the addition of two hydroxyl groups across the double bond with two different stereochemical approaches, namely anti and syn. Dihydroxylation using osmium tetroxide progresses with syn stereochemistry.
13.2K
01:28Electrochemical Cells
51
Electrochemical cells are systems that convert chemical energy into electrical energy or use electrical energy to drive chemical reactions. They consist of two electrodes in contact with an electrolyte, where redox reactions enable electron transfer. Most electrochemical cells include two half-cells connected by an external wire for electron flow and a salt bridge for ion flow. The salt bridge contains an electrolyte solution and maintains charge neutrality by allowing ions—not...
51
02:47Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
67.4K
Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
67.4K