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A polymeric hydrogel electrocatalyst for direct water oxidation

Author

Listed:
  • Zengxia Pei

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Hao Tan

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jinxing Gu

    (University of Puerto Rico)

  • Linguo Lu

    (University of Puerto Rico)

  • Xin Zeng

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Tianqi Zhang

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Cheng Wang

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Luyao Ding

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Patrick J. Cullen

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Zhongfang Chen

    (University of Puerto Rico)

  • Shenlong Zhao

    (The University of Sydney)

Abstract

Metal-free electrocatalysts represent a main branch of active materials for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but they excessively rely on functionalized conjugated carbon materials, which substantially restricts the screening of potential efficient carbonaceous electrocatalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that a mesostructured polyacrylate hydrogel can afford an unexpected and exceptional OER activity – on par with that of benchmark IrO2 catalyst in alkaline electrolyte, together with a high durability and good adaptability in various pH environments. Combined theoretical and electrokinetic studies reveal that the positively charged carbon atoms within the carboxylate units are intrinsically active toward OER, and spectroscopic operando characterizations also identify the fingerprint superoxide intermediate generated on the polymeric hydrogel backbone. This work expands the scope of metal-free materials for OER by providing a new class of polymeric hydrogel electrocatalysts with huge extension potentials.

Suggested Citation

  • Zengxia Pei & Hao Tan & Jinxing Gu & Linguo Lu & Xin Zeng & Tianqi Zhang & Cheng Wang & Luyao Ding & Patrick J. Cullen & Zhongfang Chen & Shenlong Zhao, 2023. "A polymeric hydrogel electrocatalyst for direct water oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36532-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36532-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gao-Feng Han & Feng Li & Wei Zou & Mohammadreza Karamad & Jong-Pil Jeon & Seong-Wook Kim & Seok-Jin Kim & Yunfei Bu & Zhengping Fu & Yalin Lu & Samira Siahrostami & Jong-Beom Baek, 2020. "Building and identifying highly active oxygenated groups in carbon materials for oxygen reduction to H2O2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Jeiwan Tan & Byungjun Kang & Kyungmin Kim & Donyoung Kang & Hyungsoo Lee & Sunihl Ma & Gyumin Jang & Hyungsuk Lee & Jooho Moon, 2022. "Hydrogel protection strategy to stabilize water-splitting photoelectrodes," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(6), pages 537-547, June.
    3. Fang Yu & Haiqing Zhou & Yufeng Huang & Jingying Sun & Fan Qin & Jiming Bao & William A. Goddard & Shuo Chen & Zhifeng Ren, 2018. "High-performance bifunctional porous non-noble metal phosphide catalyst for overall water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
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