Generation of hydrogen accompanied with formate bifunctional NiCoxP@NiCo-LDH nanosheet electrocatalyst

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2022-06, Vol.906, p.1, Article 164305
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yan, Wu, Xuexian, Fu, Guodong, Fu, Xian-Zhu, Luo, Jing-Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Current density; Electrocatalysis; Electrocatalysts; Electrolysis; Electron transfer; Heterostructures; Hydrogen evolution; Hydroxides; Intermetallic compounds; Layered double hydroxides; Methanol; Methanol selective oxidation; Multilayers; Nanosheets; Oxidation; Phosphating (coating); Synergistic effect; Water splitting
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.164305

NiCoxP @ NiCo-LDH catalysts are prepared by phosphating NiCo nanosheets on NiCo-layered double hydroxide (LDH) with multi-layer heterostructure. The NiCoxP @ NiCo-LDH could undergo electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution from the methanol/water mixture and value-added formate co-production. During the electrocatalytic reactions, the phosphating NiCoxP nanosheets could greatly improve the electron transfer efficiency, and it has a synergistic effect with heterostructures to enhance the electrocatalytic performance. During the hydrogen evolution and methanol oxidation reactions, the potential is only 0.132 and 1.23 V when the current density reaches 10 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the NiCoxP @ NiCo-LDH symmetric two-electrode electrolyzer has a lower potential of only 1.43 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and the Faraday efficiency of the production of formate and H2 is nearly 100%. The electrocatalysts also display excellent stability during the water/methanol co-electrolysis. [Display omitted] •NiCoxP @ NiCo-LDH was prepared using a simple electrochemical deposition method.•The NiCoxP @ NiCo-LDH exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability.•The selectivity of the methanol oxidation reaction is high and the product is value-added formate.•The catalyst shows excellent catalyst activity because of the synergistic effect of Ni and Co and abundant active sites.