Work

Atomically dispersed Ni activates adjacent Ce sites for enhanced electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activity

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Manipulating the intrinsic activity of heterogeneous catalysts at the atomic level is an effective strategy to improve the electrocatalytic performances but remains challenging. Here, atomically dispersed Ni anchored on CeO 2 particles entrenched on peanut-shaped hollow nitrogen-doped carbon structures ( a -Ni/CeO 2 @NC) is rationally designed and synthesized. The as-prepared a -Ni/CeO 2 @NC catalyst exhibits substantially boosted intrinsic activity and greatly reduced overpotential for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the decoration of isolated Ni species over the CeO 2 induces electronic coupling and redistribution, thus resulting in the activation of the adjacent Ce sites around Ni atoms and greatly accelerated oxygen evolution kinetics. This work provides a promising strategy to explore the electronic regulation and intrinsic activity improvement at the atomic level, thereby improving the electrocatalytic activity.

Source: Science Advances

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh1320

Authors: Zhihao Pei, Huabin Zhang, Zhi-Peng Wu, Xue Feng Lu, Deyan Luan, Xiong Wen (David) Lou

Institutions: Nanyang Technological University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, City University of Hong Kong

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: $4,500