Issue 17, 2017

In situ formation of a 3D core/shell structured Ni3N@Ni–Bi nanosheet array: an efficient non-noble-metal bifunctional electrocatalyst toward full water splitting under near-neutral conditions

Abstract

It is of great importance but still remains a key challenge to develop non-noble-metal bifunctional catalysts for efficient full water splitting under mild pH conditions. In this communication, we report the in situ electrochemical development of an ultrathin Ni–Bi layer on a metallic Ni3N nanosheet array supported on a Ti mesh (Ni3N@Ni–Bi NS/Ti) as a durable 3D core/shell structured nanoarray electrocatalyst for water oxidation at near-neutral pH. The Ni3N@Ni–Bi NS/Ti demands overpotentials of 405 and 382 mV to deliver a geometrical catalytic current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 0.1 and 0.5 M K–Bi (pH: 9.2), respectively, superior in activity to Ni3N NS/Ti and most reported non-precious metal catalysts under benign conditions. It also performs efficiently for the hydrogen evolution reaction requiring an overpotential of 265 mV for 10 mA cm−2 and its two-electrode electrolyser affords 10 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of 1.95 V in 0.5 M K–Bi at 25 °C.

Graphical abstract: In situ formation of a 3D core/shell structured Ni3N@Ni–Bi nanosheet array: an efficient non-noble-metal bifunctional electrocatalyst toward full water splitting under near-neutral conditions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
16 Mar 2017
Accepted
09 Apr 2017
First published
10 Apr 2017

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 7806-7810

In situ formation of a 3D core/shell structured Ni3N@Ni–Bi nanosheet array: an efficient non-noble-metal bifunctional electrocatalyst toward full water splitting under near-neutral conditions

L. Xie, F. Qu, Z. Liu, X. Ren, S. Hao, R. Ge, G. Du, A. M. Asiri, X. Sun and L. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 7806 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA02333B

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