Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Porous Nanotubes Derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks for Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting

• Published in: iScience Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 100761
• Main Authors: Wang, Yang, Zhao, Shenlong, Zhu, Yinlong, Qiu, Ruosang, Gengenbach, Thomas, Liu, Yue, Zu, Lianhai, Mao, Haiyan, Wang, Huanting, Tang, Jing, Zhao, Dongyuan, Selomulya, Cordelia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 24.01.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Catalysis; Energy Materials; Materials Chemistry; Nanomaterials; Materials Chemistry; Nanomaterials; Energy Materials; Catalysis
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.100761

Effective design of bifunctional catalysts for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is important but remains challenging. Herein, we report a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structure composed of homogeneously distributed Ni-Fe-P nanoparticles embedded in N-doped carbons on nickel foams (denoted as Ni-Fe-P@NC/NF) as an excellent bifunctional catalyst. This catalyst was fabricated by an anion exchange method and a low-temperature phosphidation of nanotubular Prussian blue analogue (PBA). The Ni-Fe-P@NC/NF displayed exceptional catalytic activity toward both HER and OER and delivered an ultralow cell voltage of 1.47 V to obtain 10 mA cm−2 with extremely excellent durability for 100 h when assembled as a practical electrolyser. The extraordinary performance of Ni-Fe-P@NC/NF is attributed to the abundance of unsaturated active sites, the well-defined hierarchical porous structure, and the synergistic effect between multiple components. Our work will inspire more rational designs of highly active non-noble electrocatalysts for industrial energy applications. [Display omitted] •Nanotubular Prussian blue analogue as a precursor is synthesized by anion exchange•The catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity for hydrogen and oxygen production•The catalyst-based electrolyser has a low cell voltage of 1.47 V to obtain 10 mA cm−2•The electrolyser shows an extremely excellent durability for 100 h at 50 mA cm−2 Catalysis; Materials Chemistry; Nanomaterials; Energy Materials