Amorphization of Metal Nanoparticles by 2D Twisted Polymer for Super Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. Issue 16 (7th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shao, Xiaodong; Liang, Mengfang; Kumar, Ashwani; Liu, Xinghui; Jin, Haiyan; Ajmal, Sara; Bui, Viet Quoc; Bui, Huong Thi Diem; Lee, Jinsun; Tran, Ngoc Quang; Yu, Jianmin; Cho, Yunhee; Kim, Min Gyu; Lee, Hyoyoung
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 12:Issue 16(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-02-07
• Subjects: 2D organic networks -- amorphization -- amorphous nanomaterials -- electrocatalysts -- hydrogen evolution reaction; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202102257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrogen generation by electrolysis of water in an alkaline solution is a promising technology for clean hydrogen energy. Amorphous materials show much better performance than their crystalline counterparts. However, it is still challenging to design amorphous metal materials. Here, a series of amorphous transition metal nanoparticles (NPs) is successfully synthesized using a twisted covalent organic network (CON) that can provide twisted carbon layers as well as asymmetrically distributed nitrogen. With the fixed monomer pore, a low loading amount of RuCl3 results in amorphous‐only Ru nanoclusters (NCs, 1.5 nm), while a high content of RuCl3 leads to crystalline dominant Ru NPs (3 nm). The mixed phased Ru‐CON catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) shows extremely low overpotential at 10 mA cm –2 (12.8 mV in 1.0 m KOH) and superior stability (after 100 h test, current loss 5.3% at 75 mA cm –2 ). More importantly, amorphous‐only Ru‐CON with smaller Ru NCs shows much better mass activity and considerable stability compared to mixed‐phase Ru‐CON materials since amorphous Ru NPs can provide more active sites than in their crystalline state. With this strategy, amorphous Fe NPs and Ir NPs are successfully prepared for extended applications, and the HER activities are reported. Abstract : For the first time, amorphous ruthenium nanoclusters (NCs) are successfully synthesized with a twisted covalent organic network as support. The amorphous Ru NCs show 14.7 and 10.2 times higher hydrogen evolution reaction mass activity than commercial Ru/C and Pt/C respectively, with superior stability (after 100 h test, current loss 2.1 % at around 59 mA cm −2 ).