Quenching-induced atom-stepped bimetallic sulfide heterointerface catalysts for industrial hydrogen generation
Hua Zhang,
Nianpeng Li,
Sanshuang Gao,
Anran Chen,
Qihang Qian,
Qingquan Kong,
Bao Yu Xia,
Guangzhi Hu
Affiliations
Hua Zhang
School of Materials and Energy, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
Nianpeng Li
School of Materials and Energy, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
Sanshuang Gao
School of Materials and Energy, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
Anran Chen
School of Materials and Energy, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
Qihang Qian
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
Qingquan Kong
School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Bao Yu Xia
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China; Corresponding authors.
Guangzhi Hu
School of Materials and Energy, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; Corresponding authors.
Developing non-noble metal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts with high activity and durability at ampere-level current densities is vital for emerging anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis, but it remains challenging. Here we present an atom-stepped nickel–cobalt bimetallic sulfide (AS-Ni3S2/Co3S4) heterostructure that exhibits superior HER performance, with ultra-low overpotentials of 28 and 195 mV at current densities of 10 and 2000 mA cm−2, respectively. Experimental analyses and theoretical calculations revealed that the work-function-induced interfacial built-in electric field drives electron transfer from Ni3S2 to Co3S4 via Ni–S–Co interfacial bridging, which effectively accelerates water activation and optimizes hydrogen adsorption and desorption. An AEM electrolyzer using an AS-Ni3S2/Co3S4 heterostructure as the cathode required cell voltages of only 1.71 and 1.79 V to reach 1.0 and 2.0 A cm−2, respectively, and operated stably for 1200 h without activity degradation.
