A p-block dopant enables energy-efficient hydrogen production from biomass

Abstract

Herein, we develop innovative p-block Bi-doped Co₃O₄ nanoflakes (Bi-Co₃O₄ NFAs) on nickel foam, which exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity for both glucose oxidation (GOR) and H₂ evolution reactions (HER). The two-electrode GOR–HER electrolyzer using Bi-Co₃O₄ NFAs as both the cathode and anode shows a remarkable reduced operation voltage of 1.48 V at 10 mA cm⁻², superior to the 1.66 V of the OER–HER electrolyzer, demonstrating promising potential for advanced H₂ production featuring energy saving and simultaneously produced value-added chemicals.