Work

Bifunctional Catalysts with Morphology-Controllable Iron Sulfide Nanosheets for Overall Water Splitting

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Engineering the morphology of naturally abundant transition metal sulfides is an effective strategy to improve their electrocatalytic activity. In this work, lumpy-, coral-, and flower-like Fe0.95S1.05 catalysts were successfully prepared using a one-pot solvothermal method through the decomposition of iron thiolato carbonyl complexes (Fe2S2(CO)6) in different solvents. Then, the structural and morphological characteristics of the nanomaterials were comprehensively investigated by a series of state-of-the-art techniques. The results showed that the formed flower-like Fe0.95S1.05 nanosheets had a high surface area of 63.7 m2 g−1 and a low contact angle of 15.4°, and a greater number of d orbitals of Fe2+ and Fe3+ overlapped on the surface. Correspondingly, this catalyst exhibited enhanced oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction activities with a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at overpotentials of 280 and 345 mV, respectively, and these values were lower than those of lumpy- and coral-like Fe0.95S1.05. When flower-like Fe0.95S1.05 was assembled as the anode and cathode catalysts, overall water splitting efficiency was achieved at 1.68 V at 10 mA cm−2. This study provides a simple and low-cost approach for preparing efficient pyrrhotite FeS-based electrocatalysts for water splitting.

Source: International Journal of Energy Research

DOI: 10.1155/2023/9275185

Authors: Xinting Li, Fucheng Li, Qiang Li, Haidong Li, Zhe Ji

Institutions: Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Qingdao University

Language: English

Topic: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,500