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Vol. 12 (2020)

Arrayed Cobalt Phosphide Electrocatalyst Achieves Low Energy Consumption and Persistent H2 Liberation from Anodic Chemical Conversion

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-020-00486-2
Kai Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco‑Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of China
Gong Zhang
Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of China
Qinghua Ji
Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of China
Jiuhui Qu
Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of China
Huijuan Liu
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco‑Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Huijuan Liu

hjliu@rcees.ac.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 12 (2020), Article Number: 154

Abstract

Electrochemical reduction of water to hydrogen (H2) offers a promising strategy for production of clean energy, but the design and optimization of electrochemical apparatus present challenges in terms of H2 recovery and energy consumption. Using cobalt phosphide nanoarrays (Co2P/CoP NAs) as a charge mediator, we effectively separated the H2 and O2 evolution of alkaline water electrolysis in time, thereby achieving a membrane-free pathway for H2 purification. The hierarchical array structure and synergistic optimization of the electronic configuration of metallic Co2P and metalloid CoP make the Co2P/CoP NAs high-efficiency bifunctional electrocatalysts for both charge storage and hydrogen evolution. Theoretical investigations revealed that the introduction of Co2P into CoP leads to a moderate hydrogen adsorption free energy and low water dissociation barrier, which are beneficial for boosting HER activity. Meanwhile, Co2P/CoP NAs with high capacitance could maintain a cathodic H2 evolution time of 1500 s at 10 mA cm−2 driven by a low average voltage of 1.38 V. Alternatively, the energy stored in the mediator could be exhausted via coupling with the anodic oxidation of ammonia, whereby only 0.21 V was required to hold the current for 1188 s. This membrane-free architecture demonstrates the potential for developing hydrogen purification technology at low cost.


Highlights:


1 A template approach for the synthesis of porous cobalt phosphide nanoarrays (Co2P/CoP NAs) is reported, which exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity and stability toward charge storage and hydrogen evolution.
2 Using Co2P/CoP NAs as a charge mediator, the H2 and O2 evolution of alkaline water electrolysis is separated effectively in time, thereby achieving a membrane-free pathway for H2 purification.
3 Introduction of easily oxidized chemicals to replace water oxidation triggers a low energy consumption path toward H2 purification.

Keywords

Electrocatalysis Cobalt phosphide Hydrogen purification Ammonia oxidation reaction Membrane-free architecture
Zhang, Kai, Gong Zhang, Qinghua Ji, Jiuhui Qu, and Huijuan Liu. 2020. “Arrayed Cobalt Phosphide Electrocatalyst Achieves Low Energy Consumption and Persistent H2 Liberation from Anodic Chemical Conversion”. Nano-Micro Letters 12 (July):154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-020-00486-2.
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