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Constructing Ni4W/WO3/NF with strongly coupled interface for hydrogen evolution in alkaline media

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The pursuit of storing renewable electricity in chemical bonds has encouraged the effort toward developing efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen production. However, the additional step of water dissociation under alkaline conditions frequently limits the performance of electrocatalysts in alkaline media. Herein, we synthesize Ni4W/WO3 with a strongly coupled interface on the Ni foam (NF) by phase transition of NiWO4, to enhance the activity for alkaline hydrogen production. It is discovered that the strong binding hydroxyl on WO3 sites facilitates the dissociation of water, which in turn promotes hydrogen evolution through the synergy effect of strong adsorption of H on Ni sites. The adsorption/desorption energy of Ni sites is further tuned by the formation of intermetallic Ni4W. Owing to the three-dimensional structure and tailored composition, the Ni4W/WO3/NF electrocatalyst exhibits a low overpotential of 31 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2, with a Tafel slope of 38 mV·dec−1. This work provides new opportunities to modulate the catalytic performance of Ni-based electrocatalysts by signifying the metal-oxide interface.

Graphical abstract

摘要

将间歇性可持续能源电力转换为化学能的关键是发展高效电催化剂材料，特别是碱性电解质中的析氢催化剂。然而，碱性条件下缓慢的水 解离初始步骤限制了电催化剂的HER 性能。本文在泡沫镍(NF)表面生长NiWO4，并通过原位转变制备具有强耦合界面的Ni4W/WO3 催化剂，提升碱性析氢催化活性。利用WO3 对羟基的强结合和Ni 位点对H 具有强吸附，协同促进对HER 起关键作用的水分子解离步骤。 金属间化合物Ni4W 的形成进一步调制了Ni 位点的吸附/脱附性能。由于Ni4W/WO3/NF 特殊的三维规整结构和界面协同效应，在 31 mV 的过电位下即可产生10 mA·cm−2 的碱性HER 电流密度，其Tafel 斜率为38 mV·dec−1。本项工作揭示了金属-氧化物界面在协同型催化反 应中的重要性，并为镍基电催化剂材料的理性设计提供新的思路。

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the China BaoWu Low Carbon Metallurgical Innovation Foundation (No. BWLCF202113) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nos. N2202012 and N2124007-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Anisotropy and Texture of Materials (MoE), School of Material Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Teng Zhang, Yi-Hong Yu, Chuang-Wei Liu, Gao-Wu Qin & Song Li

  2. Liaoning Province Engineering Research Center for Technologies of Low-Carbon Steelmaking, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Song Li

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  1. Teng Zhang
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Gao-Wu Qin is an editorial board member for Rare Metals and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Zhang, T., Yu, YH., Liu, CW. et al. Constructing Ni4W/WO3/NF with strongly coupled interface for hydrogen evolution in alkaline media. Rare Met. 42, 3945–3951 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-023-02362-5

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