Abstract
Develo** active, durable, and cost-controllable catalytic electrodes is the key of efficiently convert and store sustainable energy of hydrogen, but still a great challenge. Herein, we prepared a new Ag-based composite electrode of NiO/Ag and CuO/Ag by a facile method, which had a special through-hole-ordered structure for high-efficiency hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. Of them, the NiO/Ag electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic performance, with an extremely low overpotential of 23 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, as well a small Tafel slope of 73.2 mV dec−1, which exhibited comparable or better performance than the other state-of-the-art Ag-based electrodes for HER. The composite electrodes were characterized and the reaction mechanism was discussed. It is proposed that the heterojunction on the interface of NiO with Ag decreased the binding energy and charge density of Ag. Particularly, the through-hole-ordered structure provided more reactive sites and accelerated species transfer and water decomposition reaction.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.
References
J.Z. Chen, G.G. Liu, Y.Z. Zhu et al., Ag@MoS2 core-shell heterostructure as SERS platform to reveal the hydrogen evolution active sites of single-layer MoS2. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142, 7161–7167 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c01649
C.H. Ding, M. Breunig, J. Timm, R. Marschall, J. Senker, S. Agarwal, Flexible, mechanically stable, porous self-standing microfiber network membranes of covalent organic frameworks: preparation method and characterization. Adv. Funct. Mater. 31, 2106507 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202106507
G. Feng, F.H. Ning, J. Song et al., Sub-2 nm ultrasmall high-entropy alloy nanoparticles for extremely superior electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 17117–17127 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c07643
F.S. Guo, B. Hu, C. Yang, J.S. Zhang, Y.D. Hou, X.C. Wang, On-surface polymerization of in-plane highly ordered carbon nitride nanosheets toward photocatalytic mineralization of mercaptan gas. Adv. Mater. 33, 17117–17127 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202101466
M.W. Zhu, Q. Shao, Y. Qian, X.Q. Huang, Superior overall water splitting electrocatalysis in acidic conditions enabled by bimetallic Ir-Ag nanotubes. Nano Energy 56, 330–337 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.11.023
J. Wang, M.K. Zhang, G.L. Yang et al., Heterogeneous bimetallic Mo-NiPx/NiSy as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for robust overall water splitting. Adv. Funct. Mater. 31, 2101532 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202101532
J. Wu, H. Xu, W. Yan, Photoelectrocatalytic degradation rhodamine B over highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays photoelectrode. Appl. Surf. Sci. 386, 1–13 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.05.155
R.C. Wang, K. Lan, R.F. Lin et al., Precisely controlled vertical alignment in mesostructured carbon thin films for efficient electrochemical sensing. ACS Nano 15, 7713–7721 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.1c01367
G.K. Mor, K. Shankar, M. Paulose, O.K. Varghese, C.A. Grimes, Use of highly-ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays in dye-sensitized solar cells. Nano Lett. 6, 215–218 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1021/nl052099j
Z.B. Hao, X.C. He, H.D. Li et al., Vertically aligned and ordered arrays of 2D MCo2S4@Metal with ultrafast ion/electron transport for thickness-independent pseudocapacitive energy storage. ACS Nano 14, 12719–12731 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c02973
K.L. Yan, J.Q. Chi, J.Y. **e et al., Mesoporous Ag-doped Co3O4 nanowire arrays supported on FTO as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction in acidic media. Renewable Energy 119, 54–61 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.12.003
C. Zhu, G. Meng, P. Zheng et al., A hierarchically ordered array of silver-nanorod bundles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of phenolic pollutants. Adv. Mater. 28, 4871–4876 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201506251
H. Ham, J. Kim, S.J. Cho, J.-H. Choi, D.J. Moon, J.W. Bae, Enhanced stability of spatially confined copper nanoparticles in an ordered mesoporous alumina for dimethyl ether synthesis from syngas. ACS Catal. 6, 5629–5640 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.6b00882
J. Du, X. Lai, N. Yang et al., Hierarchically ordered macro-mesoporous TiO2-graphene composite films: improved mass transfer, reduced charge recombination, and their enhanced photocatalytic activities. ACS Nano 5, 590–596 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1021/nn102767d
Y. Shi, C. Hua, B. Li et al., Highly ordered mesoporous crystalline MoSe2 material with efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity and enhanced lithium storage performance. Adv. Funct. Mater. 23, 1832–1838 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201202144
J.M. Cho, S.R. Lee, J. Sun, N. Tsubaki, E.J. Jang, J.W. Bae, Highly ordered mesoporous Fe2O3-ZrO2 bimetal oxides for an enhanced CO hydrogenation activity to hydrocarbons with their structural stability. ACS Catal. 7, 5955–5964 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.7b01989
Q.-X. Chen, Y.-H. Liu, Z. He et al., Microchemical engineering in a 3D ordered channel enhances electrocatalysis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 12600–12608 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c04653
B.K. Pilapil, J. van Drunen, Y. Makonnen, D. Beauchemin, G. Jerkiewicz, B.D. Gates, Ordered porous electrodes by design: toward enhancing the effective utilization of platinum in electrocatalysis. Adv. Funct. Mater. 27, 1703171 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201703171
H. Huang, L. **a, X. Shi, A.M. Asiri, X. Sun, Ag nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic N-2 fixation to NH3 under ambient conditions. Chem. Commun. 54, 11427–11430 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cc06365f
T.T.H. Hoang, S. Verma, S. Ma et al., Nanoporous copper silver alloys by additive-controlled electrodeposition for the selective electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene and ethanol. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 140, 5791–5797 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.8b01868
Y. Liu, Z. Zhang, Y. Fang et al., IR-Driven strong plasmonic-coupling on Ag nanorices/W18O49 nanowires heterostructures for photo/thermal synergistic enhancement of H-2 evolution from ammonia borane. Appl. Catal. B 252, 164–173 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2019.04.035
M. Beytur, F. Kardas, O. Akyildirim et al., A highly selective and sensitive voltammetric sensor with molecularly imprinted polymer based silver@gold nanoparticles/ionic liquid modified glassy carbon electrode for determination of ceftizoxime. J. Mol. Liq. 251, 212–217 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2017.12.060
Y. Wang, Y. Wang, D. Wu et al., Label-free electrochemical immunosensor based on flower-like Ag/MoS2/rGO nanocomposites for ultrasensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen. Sens. Actuators B 255, 125–132 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.07.129
N. Hao, R. Hua, S. Chen et al., Multiple signal-amplification via Ag and TiO2 decorated 3D nitrogen doped graphene hydrogel for fabricating sensitive label-free photoelectrochemical thrombin aptasensor. Biosens. Bioelectron. 101, 14–20 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2017.10.014
T. Hu, S. Xuan, L. Ding, X. Gong, Stretchable and magneto-sensitive strain sensor based on silver nanowire-polyurethane sponge enhanced magnetorheological elastomer. Mater. Des. 156, 528–537 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2018.07.024
Y. Ge, X. Duan, M. Zhang et al., Direct room temperature welding and chemical protection of silver nanowire thin films for high performance transparent conductors. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 140, 193–199 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b07851
Y. Sun, M. Chang, L. Meng et al., Flexible organic photovoltaics based on water-processed silver nanowire electrodes. Nat. Electron. 2, 513–520 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-019-0315-1
A.G. Ricciardulli, S. Yang, G.-J.A.H. Wetzelaer, X. Feng, P.W.M. Blom, Hybrid silver nanowire and graphene-based solution-processed transparent electrode for organic optoelectronics. Adv. Funct. Mater. 28, 1706010 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201706010
S. Zhao, R. **, R. **, Opportunities and challenges in CO2 reduction by gold- and silver-based electrocatalysts: from bulk metals to nanoparticles and atomically precise nanoclusters. ACS Energy Lett. 3, 452–462 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.7b01104
E. Lee, J. Ahn, H.-C. Kwon et al., All-solution-processed silver nanowire window electrode-based flexible perovskite solar cells enabled with amorphous metal oxide protection. Adv. Energy Mater. 8, 1702182 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201702182
X.B. Yan, J.H. Zhao, S. Liu et al., Memristor with Ag-cluster-doped TiO2 films as artificial synapse for neuroinspired computing. Adv. Funct. Mater. 28, 1705320 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201705320
Y. Feng, Z. Li, C.Q. Cheng et al., Strawberry-like Co3O4-Ag bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting. Appl. Catal. B 299, 120658 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120658
M.H. Tang, C. Hahn, A.J. Klobuchar et al., Nickel-silver alloy electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxidation in an alkaline electrolyte. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16, 19250–19257 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/c4cp01385a
X.H. **a, X.J. Zhao, W.C. Ye, C.M. Wang, Highly porous Ag-Ag2S/MoS2 with additional active sites synthesized by chemical etching method for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Electrochim. Acta 142, 173–181 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2014.07.129
C. Song, Z. Zhao, X. Sun, Y. Zhou, Y. Wang, D. Wang, In situ growth of Ag nanodots decorated Cu2O porous nanobelts networks on copper foam for efficient HER electrocatalysis. Small (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201804268
H. Ren, W. Xu, S. Zhu, Z. Cui, X. Yang, A. Inoue, Synthesis and properties of nanoporous Ag2S/CuS catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction. Electrochim. Acta 190, 221–228 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2015.12.096
Z.L. Zhao, P. Wang, X.L. Xu, M. Sheves, Y.D. **, Bacteriorhodopsin/Ag nanoparticle-based hybrid nano-bioelectrocatalyst for efficient and robust H-2 evolution from water. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 137, 2840–2843 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b00200
H. Tian, Z.Y. Zhang, C.Y. Liu, Construction of needle-like crystalline AgO ordered structures from Ag nanoparticles and their properties. New J. Chem. 42, 5376–5381 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1039/c7nj05007k
C.G. Morales-Guio, L.A. Stern, X.L. Hu, Nanostructured hydrotreating catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen evolution. Chem. Soc. Rev. 43, 6555–6569 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/c3cs60468c
J. Greeley, T.F. Jaramillo, J. Bonde, I.B. Chorkendorff, J.K. Norskov, Computational high-throughput screening of electrocatalytic materials for hydrogen evolution. Nat. Mater. 5, 909–913 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1752
J.G. Li, K.F. **e, H.C. Sun et al., Template-directed bifunctional dodecahedral CoP/CN@MoS2 electrocatalyst for high efficient water splitting. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 11, 36649–36657 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b11859
H.J. Liu, W.L. Yu, M.X. Li et al., The rational design of Ni3S2 nanosheets-Ag nanorods on Ni foam with improved hydrogen adsorption sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Sustain. Energy Fuels 5, 3428–3435 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1039/d1se00702e
R.E. Hayes, S.T. Kolaczkowskib, P.K.C. Li, S. Awdry, Evaluating the effective diffusivity of methane in the washcoat of a honeycomb monolith. Appl. Catal. B 25, 93–104 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0926-3373(99)00122-8
Acknowledgements
The work was financially supported by the Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and the Technical Institute of Physical and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
HH conceived the idea and performed the experiments and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. HT, SN, and He Q supervised the experiment and characterization. Zhang Z provided analysis tools. Zhang Z and Lin C revised the manuscript and supervised the analysis. All authors contributed to the general discussion.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest to declare.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Huo, H., Tian, H., Nie, S. et al. Ordered Ag composite electrode for an efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 1223 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10641-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10641-1