Reconstituting Cu0/Cu+ synergy with heterostructured CeO2 enabling energy-efficient bipolar hydrogen generation

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2023-11, Vol.475, p.146506, Article 146506
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xin, Yu, Jing, Shen, Hao-Jie, Zhang, Lu, Yang, Gai-Xiu, Zhou, Xiao-Cheng, Feng, Jiu-Ju, Wang, Ai-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bipolar hydrogen generation system; Furfural oxidation reaction; Heterostructures; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Synergistic effect
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.146506

The bifunctional CeO2@Cu NRAs/CF is synthesized by a simple electrochemical redox method. The as-formed CeO2@Cu NRAs/CF exhibits outstanding properties towards furfural oxidation and hydrogen evolution, mainly taking advantage of the heterostructured configuration and the synergistic effect between Cu0 and Cu+. Remarkably, the CeO2@Cu NRAs/CF-assembled system significantly lessen the energy consumption for generating hydrogen, which presents a promising pathway for sustainable and high-efficiency production of high-purity hydrogen. [Display omitted] •Bifunctional CeO2@Cu NRAs/CF was obtained by a simple electrochemical redox step.•Ultra-low potential BOR produces high value-added product as well as hydrogen.•Cu0 facilitates the formation of *GDA, while Cu+ accelerates H2 generation.•The incorporation of CeO2 facilitates charge transfer and modulates binding energy of H2.•The assembled bipolar hydrogen system greatly reduces energy consumption of H2. The establishment of electrocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production system with low energy consumption is of great significance for sustainable development. Herein, a groundbreaking achievement is presented by development of a bifunctional electrocatalyst (CeO2@Cu NRAs) on Cu foam, enabling simultaneously efficient catalysis of both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, −0.18 VRHE at 10 mA cm−2) and furfural oxidation reaction (FFOR, 0.10 VRHE at 10 mA cm−2). The synergistic effect between Cu0 and Cu+ is investigated by density functional theory calculation, as well as the role of the heterostructured CeO2 played. Accordingly, subtle integration of such two half-reactions, the catalyst-assembled hydrogen system only requires an electrical input of 1.02 kWh per m3 of H2, which is one fifth of the energy consumed by conventional water electrolysis (5 kWh per m3 H2), signifying a compelling strategy for reducing energy consumption and improving the overall efficiency for hydrogen production.