A multi-dimensional hierarchical strategy building melamine sponge-derived tetrapod carbon supported cobalt–nickel tellurides 0D/3D nanohybrids for boosting hydrogen evolution and triiodide reduction reaction

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2022-10, Vol.624, p.650-669
• Main Authors: Deng, Yingying, Yun, Sining, Dang, Jiaoe, Zhang, Yongwei, Dang, Changwei, Wang, Yinhao, Liu, Zhuolei, Gao, Zan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cobalt–nickel tellurides; Counter electrode catalysts; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Electrochemical properties; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Melamine sponge-derived tetrapod carbon; Triiodide reduction reaction
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.05.147

[Display omitted] •Melamine sponge-derived 3D tetrapod carbon supported 0D CoNiTe2 are fabricated.•A low Tafel slope of 72 mV dec−1 is achieved in alkaline HER with CoNiTe2/SNTC.•A high PCE of 8.11% is obtained by using CoNiTe2/SNTC catalysts in IRR.•CoNiTe2/SNTC exhibits superior electrochemical stability in HER and IRR.•A multi-dimensional hierarchical strategy is proposed for building nanohybrids. Designing efficient nanohybrid electrocatalysts with advanced structure is of great essential for energy conversion devices. Herein, a multi-dimensional hierarchical strategy is proposed to design melamine sponge-derived sulfur and nitrogen co-doped tetrapod carbon (SNTC) supported cobalt–nickel telluride (CoTe2/SNTC, NiTe2/SNTC, and CoNiTe2/SNTC) 1D/3D and 0D/3D nanohybrids for boosting hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and triiodide reduction reaction (IRR). Among these, the CoNiTe2/SNTC 0D/3D hybrid exhibited superior catalytic activities and excellent electrochemical stability. In alkaline HER, the CoNiTe2/SNTC catalyst had a low Tafel slope of 72 mV dec−1, which was comparable to that of Pt/C (49 mV dec−1). CoNiTe2/SNTC served as counter electrode catalyst in photovoltaics and obtained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.11%, which is higher than that of Pt (7.25%). This investigation provides a novel approach for designing highly efficient nanohybrid catalysts in advanced energy devices.