Homologous metal-free electrocatalysts grown on three-dimensional carbon networks for overall water splitting in acidic and alkaline media. Issue 33 (4th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peng, Zheng; Yang, Siwei; Jia, Dingsi; Da, Peimei; He, Peng; Al-Enizi, Abdullah M.; Ding, Guqiao; Xie, Xiaoming; Zheng, Gengfeng
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 33(2016)
• Page Start: 12878
• Page End: 12883
• Publication Date: 2016-08-04
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ta04426c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Homologous metal-free electrocatalysts grown on three-dimensional carbon networks are integrated for overall water splitting in acidic and alkaline media. Abstract : A homologous, metal-free electrolyzer in both acidic and alkaline media was developed, consisting of self-supported carbon nitride/carbon nanotube/carbon fiber (C3 N4 –CNT–CF) and sulfur-doped carbon nitride/carbon nanotube/carbon fiber (S-C3 N4 –CNT–CF) as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts, respectively. The self-supported C3 N4 –CNT–CF electrode was proven to be an effective catalyst for the OER, due to the high N content of carbon nitride sheets and enhanced charge transport ability by the synergistic effect between the well-designed three-dimensional hierarchical carbon network and layered carbon nitride. In the meantime, the S-C3 N4 –CNT–CF was also proven to be an efficient, stable metal-free electrode for the HER. The homologous C3 N4 –CNT–CF||S-C3 N4 –CNT–CF water splitting system presents low onset potential and good stability in both acidic and alkaline media, indicating a potential carbon-based, metal-free full water splitting electrolyzer with low cost.