Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis Using Cobalt Nanotubes Decorated with Titanium Dioxide Nanodots

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 56; no. 11; pp. 2960 - 2964
• Main Authors: Feng, Jin‐Xian, Xu, Han, Dong, Yu‐Tao, Lu, Xue‐Feng, Tong, Ye‐Xiang, Li, Gao‐Ren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 06.03.2017
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Catalysis; Catalysts; Cobalt; Electrocatalysts; Free energy; Hydrogen; hydrogen evolution reaction; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Hydrogen-based energy; Hygroscopic water; nanosheets; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; renewable energies; Titanium dioxide; nanotubes; electrocatalysts; hydrogen evolution reaction; nanosheets; renewable energies
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201611767

TiO2 Co nanotubes decorated with nanodots (TiO2 NDs/Co NSNTs‐CFs) are reported as high‐performance earth‐abundant electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline solution. TiO2 NDs/Co NSNTs can promote water adsorption and optimize the free energy of hydrogen adsorption. More importantly, the absorbed water can be easily activated in the presence of the TiO2–Co hybrid structure. These advantages will significantly promote HER. TiO2 NDs/Co NSNTs‐CFs as electrocatalysts show a high catalytic performance towards HER in alkaline solution. This study will open up a new avenue for designing and fabricating low‐cost high‐performance HER catalysts. Electrolysis of water: Carbon‐fiber‐supported nanotubes from TiO2 nanodot‐decorated Co nanosheets were fabricated for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electronic interaction between TiO2 and Co can effectively activate the absorbed water molecules and optimize the free energy of H adsorption. The catalysts show an excellent electrocatalytic performance for the HER.