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Nitrogen-doped tungsten carbide nanoarray as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting in acid

Author

Listed:
  • Nana Han

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Ke R. Yang

    (Yale University)

  • Zhiyi Lu

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Yingjie Li

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Wenwen Xu

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Tengfei Gao

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Zhao Cai

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Ying Zhang

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

  • Victor S. Batista

    (Yale University)

  • Wen Liu

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology
    Yale University)

  • Xiaoming Sun

    (Beijing University of Chemical Technology)

Abstract

Tungsten carbide is one of the most promising electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction, although it exhibits sluggish kinetics due to a strong tungsten-hydrogen bond. In addition, tungsten carbide’s catalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction has yet to be reported. Here, we introduce a superaerophobic nitrogen-doped tungsten carbide nanoarray electrode exhibiting high stability and activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction as well as driving oxygen evolution efficiently in acid. Nitrogen-doping and nanoarray structure accelerate hydrogen gas release from the electrode, realizing a current density of −200 mA cm−2 at the potential of −190 mV vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, which manifest one of the best non-noble metal catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Under acidic conditions (0.5 M sulfuric acid), water splitting catalyzed by nitrogen-doped tungsten carbide nanoarray starts from about 1.4 V, and outperforms most other water splitting catalysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Nana Han & Ke R. Yang & Zhiyi Lu & Yingjie Li & Wenwen Xu & Tengfei Gao & Zhao Cai & Ying Zhang & Victor S. Batista & Wen Liu & Xiaoming Sun, 2018. "Nitrogen-doped tungsten carbide nanoarray as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting in acid," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03429-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03429-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Bing Deng & Zhe Wang & Weiyin Chen & John Tianci Li & Duy Xuan Luong & Robert A. Carter & Guanhui Gao & Boris I. Yakobson & Yufeng Zhao & James M. Tour, 2022. "Phase controlled synthesis of transition metal carbide nanocrystals by ultrafast flash Joule heating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Heming Liu & Ruikuan Xie & Yuting Luo & Zhicheng Cui & Qiangmin Yu & Zhiqiang Gao & Zhiyuan Zhang & Fengning Yang & Xin Kang & Shiyu Ge & Shaohai Li & Xuefeng Gao & Guoliang Chai & Le Liu & Bilu Liu, 2022. "Dual interfacial engineering of a Chevrel phase electrode material for stable hydrogen evolution at 2500 mA cm−2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Jie Dai & Yinlong Zhu & Yu Chen & Xue Wen & Mingce Long & Xinhao Wu & Zhiwei Hu & Daqin Guan & Xixi Wang & Chuan Zhou & Qian Lin & Yifei Sun & Shih-Chang Weng & Huanting Wang & Wei Zhou & Zongping Sha, 2022. "Hydrogen spillover in complex oxide multifunctional sites improves acidic hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Yang, Yang & Li, Jun & Yang, Yingrui & Lan, Linghan & Liu, Run & Fu, Qian & Zhang, Liang & Liao, Qiang & Zhu, Xun, 2022. "Gradient porous electrode-inducing bubble splitting for highly efficient hydrogen evolution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    5. Darband, Ghasem Barati & Aliofkhazraei, Mahmood & Shanmugam, Sangaraju, 2019. "Recent advances in methods and technologies for enhancing bubble detachment during electrochemical water splitting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.

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