Ni3S2 nanowires grown on nickel foam as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting with greatly practical prospects. (16th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Dawei; Li, Jingwei; Luo, Jiaxian; Xu, Peiman; Wei, Licheng; Zhou, Dan; Xu, Weiming; Yuan, Dingsheng
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 29:Number 24(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-04-16
• Subjects: bifunctional electrocatalysts -- hydrogen evolution reaction -- oxygen evolution reaction -- Ni3S2 nanowires -- water splitting; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aab6ff
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: It is essential to synthesize low-cost, earth-abundant bifunctional electrocatalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) for water electrolysis. Herein, we present a one-step sulfurization method to fabricate Ni3 S2 nanowires directly grown on Ni foam (Ni3 S2 NWs/Ni) as such an electrocatalyst. This synthetic strategy has several advantages including facile preparation, low cost and can even be expanded to large-scale preparation for practical applications. The as-synthesized Ni3 S2 NWs/Ni exhibits a low overpotential of 81 and 317 mV to render a current density of 10 mA cm −2 for the HER and OER, respectively, in 1.0 mol l −1 KOH solution. The Ni3 S2 NWs/Ni was integrated to be the cathode and the anode in the alkaline electrolyzer for overall water splitting with a current density of 10 mA cm −2 afforded at a cell voltage of 1.63 V. More importantly, this electrolyzer maintained its electrocatalytic activity even after continual water splitting for 30 h. Owing to its simple synthesis process, the earth-abundant electrocatalyst and high performance, this versatile Ni3 S2 NWs/Ni electrode will become a promising electrocatalyst for water splitting.