Take a cue from nature: Promoting electrocatalytic watersplitting with a helping hand of hemoglobin. (19th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Wenyan; Wang, Wei; Hu, Yingfei; Guan, Hangmin; Hao, Lingyun
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 3504
• Page End: 3509
• Publication Date: 2021-01-19
• Subjects: Water splitting -- Oxygen transport -- Hemoglobin -- Earth-abundant catalysts; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Electrocatalytic water splitting is a promising approach to generating hydrogen from water. In order to enhance water splitting efficiency, it is essential to promote gas revolution from catalysts surface, reduce the over-potential of oxygen evolution (OER), and inhibit the production of the hydrogen peroxide by-product. To realize them, in this work, we take a cue from nature to promote water splitting activity of hollow porous Fe3 O4 microspheres (M−Fe3 O4 ) with the aids of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin monolayer was self-assembled on the surface of M−Fe3 O4 catalysts. It transported newly-generated oxygen molecules away from catalysts surface and exhibited chiral-induced spin selectivity ( CISS ) effect during OER reaction. Owing to the "helping hand" of hemoglobin, the OER onset potential of hollow porous Fe3 O4 microspheres reduced by 100 mV and the current density was enhanced 2 folds. The results indicate a new strategy for designing earth-abundant catalysts which combine the merits of oxygen transferring and CISS effect for electrocatalytic water splitting. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Self-assembling hemoglobin monolayer on the surface of hollow Fe3 O4 microspheres. Timely moving newly-generated oxygen molecules away from catalysts by HB layer. Suppressing H2 O2 production by HB induced chiral-induced spin selectivity effect.