Regulating the Local Charge Distribution of Ni Active Sites for the Urea Oxidation Reaction. Issue 19 (30th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Liping; Zhu, Yajie; Wen, Yunzhou; Li, Shangyu; Cui, Chunyu; Ni, Fenglou; Liu, Yunxia; Lin, Haiping; Li, Youyong; Peng, Huisheng; Zhang, Bo
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 60:Issue 19(2021)
• Page Start: 10577
• Page End: 10582
• Publication Date: 2021-03-30
• Subjects: electrocatalysis -- energy conversion -- nickel -- urea oxidation reaction; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202100610
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: In electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems, the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) accounts for a large proportion of the energy consumption. The electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is one of the promising alternatives to OER, owing to its low thermodynamic potential. However, owing to the sluggish UOR kinetics, its potential in practical use has not been unlocked. Herein, we developed a tungsten‐doped nickel catalyst (Ni‐WO x ) with superior activity towards UOR. The Ni‐WO x catalyst exhibited record fast reaction kinetics (440 mA cm −2 at 1.6 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode) and a high turnover frequency of 0.11 s −1, which is 4.8 times higher than that without W dopants. In further experiments, we found that the W dopant regulated the local charge distribution of Ni atoms, leading to the formation of Ni 3+ sites with superior activity and thus accelerating the interfacial catalytic reaction. Moreover, when we integrated Ni‐WO x into a CO2 flow electrolyzer, the cell voltage is reduced to 2.16 V accompanying with ≈98 % Faradaic efficiency towards carbon monoxide. Abstract : A highly efficient W‐doped Ni‐WO x UOR catalyst for the urea oxidation reaction has been devised which could be used in CO2 electroreduction devices. A low cell voltage of 2.16 V was achieved in a CO2 ‐to‐CO electrolyzer, saving 15 % energy compared to standard devices based on the oxygen evolution reaction.