Rh/RhOx nanosheets as pH-universal bifunctional catalysts for hydrazine oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions

Hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR)-assisted hydrogen evolution is a promising effluent treatment and energy conversion method for resolving the global energy shortage and environmental crisis. However, highly efficient and pH-universal electrocatalysts are still lacking to boost the sluggish kineti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2022-01, Vol.10 (4), p.1891-1898
Main Authors: Yang, Junjun, Xu, Liang, Zhu, Wenxiang, Xie, Miao, Liao, Fan, Cheng, Tao, Kang, Zhenhui, Shao, Mingwang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Catalysts
Density functional theory
Electrocatalysts
Electrolytes
Energy consumption
Energy conversion
Energy shortages
Evolution
Hydrazine
Hydrazines
Hydrogen
Hydrogen evolution reactions
Hydrogen production
Interfaces
Low voltage
Nanosheets
Oxidation
pH effects
Rhodium
Sulfuric acid
Wastewater treatment
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Summary:Hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR)-assisted hydrogen evolution is a promising effluent treatment and energy conversion method for resolving the global energy shortage and environmental crisis. However, highly efficient and pH-universal electrocatalysts are still lacking to boost the sluggish kinetics of both the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anodic HzOR. Here, Rh/RhOx nanosheets with Rh–O–Rh interfaces are fabricated by alkali-assisted synthesis and the H2 reduction route. When they are employed as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts, the Rh/RhOx nanosheets exhibit outstanding performance and stability for the HER and HzOR in pH-universal electrolytes. The two-electrode electrolyzer delivers a current density of 10 mA cm−2 with an ultra-low voltage of 0.068, 0.268, and 0.348 V in 1.0 M KOH/0.5 M N2H4, 1.0 M PBS/0.3 M N2H4 and 0.5 M H2SO4/0.5 M N2H4, respectively. The performance can be maintained over 65 h for the HER and HzOR under neutral conditions. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the high activity is derived from the Rh–O–Rh interfaces. The regulation of the interface greatly improves the activity of the catalyst and reduces energy consumption, which is more conducive to the production of hydrogen.
ISSN:2050-7488
2050-7496
DOI:10.1039/d1ta09391f