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Nanomaterials
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Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis
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Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2024) | Viewed by 17318

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Xiangzhi Cui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
Interests: electrochemical catalysis; electrosynthesis; fuel cells
Prof. Dr. Ruguang Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China
Interests: nanomaterials; electrochemical energy storage and conversion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Electrochemistry is an important subject when studying the relationship between electricity and chemical reactions, and is closely related to current research topics, including clean energy, advanced materials, environmental protection, etc. Energy electrocatalysis is an important branch of electrochemistry involving the interaction of electrical and chemical reactions in an electrochemical cell. Additionally, the activity and kinetics of an electrochemical reaction are highly influenced by the composition and structure of electrocatalysts. Nanostructured electrocatalysts usually show different electrocatalytic reaction activities and reaction paths from bulk counterparts. Moreover, surface reconstruction, catalyst-support interaction or the interface engineering of nanostructures often remarkably affect the underlying reaction mechanisms, lead to high-performance electrocatalysts.

Given the unprecedented flourish of this field, this Special Issue hopes to present comprehensive research outlining the progress achieved regarding the application of nanostructures to improve the performance of electrocatalytic reactions. This mainly focuses on energy electrocatalysis, including the design and synthesis of nanostructured electrocatalytic materials, typical applications in the electrolysis of water, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, metal-air batteries, electrosynthesis, piezoelectric catalysis and the corresponding electrocatalytic mechanism. We invite authors to contribute original research or review articles covering the current progress on nanostructure-based energy electrocatalysis. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Electrolysis of water.
  • Proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
  • Metal-air battery based on nanostructures.
  • Electrosynthesis.
  • Piezoelectric catalysis.

Prof. Dr. Xiangzhi Cui
Prof. Dr. Ruguang Ma
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanostructures
  • nanomaterials
  • interface engineering
  • electrocatalysis
  • electrosynthesis
  • electrolysis of water
  • fuel cells
  • piezoelectric catalysis

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2091 KiB  
Article
Effect of Heat Treatment on Structure of Carbon Shell-Encapsulated Pt Nanoparticles for Fuel Cells
by Khikmatulla Davletbaev, Sourabh S. Chougule, Jiho Min, Keonwoo Ko, Yunjin Kim, Hyeonwoo Choi, Yoonseong Choi, Abhishek A. Chavan, Beomjun Pak, Ikromjon U. Rakhmonov and Namgee Jung
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(11), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14110924 - 24 May 2024
Viewed by 1037
Abstract
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have attracted much attention as highly efficient, eco-friendly energy conversion devices. However, carbon-supported Pt (Pt/C) catalysts for PEMFCs still have several problems, such as low long-term stability, to be widely commercialized in fuel cell applications. To address [...] Read more.
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have attracted much attention as highly efficient, eco-friendly energy conversion devices. However, carbon-supported Pt (Pt/C) catalysts for PEMFCs still have several problems, such as low long-term stability, to be widely commercialized in fuel cell applications. To address the stability issues of Pt/C such as the dissolution, detachment, and agglomeration of Pt nanoparticles under harsh operating conditions, we design an interesting fabrication process to produce a highly active and durable Pt catalyst by introducing a robust carbon shell on the Pt surface. Furthermore, this approach provides insights into how to regulate the carbon shell layer for fuel cell applications. Through the application of an appropriate amount of H2 gas during heat treatment, the carbon shell pores, which are integral to the structure, can be systematically modulated to facilitate oxygen adsorption for the oxygen reduction reaction. Simultaneously, the carbon shell functions as a protective barrier, preventing catalyst degradation. In this regard, we investigate an in-depth analysis of the effects of critical parameters including H2 content and the flow rate of H2/N2 mixed gas during heat treatment to prepare better catalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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14 pages, 6621 KiB  
Article
NiTi-Layered Double Hydroxide@Carbon Nanotube as a Cathode Material for Chloride-Ion Batteries
by Lu Zou, Shijiao Sun, Chang Zhang and Xiangyu Zhao
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(20), 2779; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13202779 - 17 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1454
Abstract
Chloride-ion batteries (CIBs) are one of the promising candidates for energy storage due to their low cost, high theoretical energy density and high safety. However, the limited types of cathode materials in CIBs have hindered their development. In this work, a NiTi-LDH@CNT composite [...] Read more.
Chloride-ion batteries (CIBs) are one of the promising candidates for energy storage due to their low cost, high theoretical energy density and high safety. However, the limited types of cathode materials in CIBs have hindered their development. In this work, a NiTi-LDH@CNT composite is prepared using a reverse microemulsion method and applied in CIBs for the first time. The specific surface area and the pore volume of the obtained NiTi-LDH@CNT composites can reach 266 m2 g−1 and 0.42 cm3 g−1, respectively. Electrochemical tests indicate that the composite electrode delivers a reversible specific capacity of 69 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 in 0.5 M PP14Cl/PC electrolyte. Ni2+/Ni3+ and Ti3+/Ti4+ valence changes during electrochemical cycling are demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while reversible migration of Cl− is revealed by ex-situ EDS and ex-situ XRD. The stable layered structure and abundant valence changes of the NiTi-LDH@CNT composite make it an exceptional candidate as a cathode material for CIBs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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11 pages, 2780 KiB  
Article
Constructing FeS and ZnS Heterojunction on N,S-Codoped Carbon as Robust Electrocatalyst toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction
by Fenglai Pei, Min Li, Yifan Huang, Qiuyun Guo, Kunming Song, Fantao Kong and Xiangzhi Cui
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2682; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192682 - 30 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1096
Abstract
Highly active and cost-efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are significant for developing renewable energy conversion devices. Herein, a nanocomposite Fe/ZnS-SNC electrocatalyst with an FeS and ZnS heterojunction on N,S-codoped carbon has been fabricated via a facile one-step sulfonating of the pre-designed [...] Read more.
Highly active and cost-efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are significant for developing renewable energy conversion devices. Herein, a nanocomposite Fe/ZnS-SNC electrocatalyst with an FeS and ZnS heterojunction on N,S-codoped carbon has been fabricated via a facile one-step sulfonating of the pre-designed Zn- and Fe-organic frameworks. Benefitting from the electron transfer from FeS to adjacent ZnS at the heterointerfaces, the optimized Fe/ZnS-SNC900 catalyst exhibits excellent ORR performances, featuring the half-wave potentials of 0.94 V and 0.81 V in alkaline and acidic media, respectively, which is competitive with the commercial 20 wt.% Pt/C (0.87 and 0.76 V). The flexible Zn-air battery equipping Fe/ZnS-SNC900 affords a higher open-circuit voltage (1.45 V) and power density of 30.2 mW cm−2. Fuel cells assembled with Fe/ZnS-SNC900 as cathodic catalysts deliver a higher power output of 388.3 and 242.8 mW cm−2 in H2-O2 and -air conditions. This work proposes advanced heterostructured ORR electrocatalysts that effectively promote renewable energy conversions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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11 pages, 4172 KiB  
Article
Interface Coordination Engineering of P-Fe3O4/Fe@C Derived from an Iron-Based Metal Organic Framework for pH-Universal Water Splitting
by Minmin Fan, Peixiao Li, Baibai Liu, Yun Gong, Chengling Luo, Kun Yang, Xinjuan Liu, Jinchen Fan and Yuhua Xue
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1909; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131909 - 22 Jun 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1426
Abstract
Developing electrocatalysts with high energy conversion efficiency is urgently needed. In this work, P-Fe3O4/Fe@C electrodes with rich under-coordinated Fe atom interfaces are constructed for efficient pH-universal water splitting. The introduction of under-coordinated Fe atoms into the P-Fe3O [...] Read more.
Developing electrocatalysts with high energy conversion efficiency is urgently needed. In this work, P-Fe3O4/Fe@C electrodes with rich under-coordinated Fe atom interfaces are constructed for efficient pH-universal water splitting. The introduction of under-coordinated Fe atoms into the P-Fe3O4/Fe@C interface can increase the local charge density and polarize the 3d orbital lone electrons, which promotes water adsorption and activation to release more H*, thus elevating electrocatalytic activity. As a donor-like catalyst, P-Fe3O4/Fe@C displays excellent electrocatalytic performance with overpotentials of 160 mV and 214 mV in acidic and alkaline electrolytes at 10 mA cm−2, in addition to pH-universal long-term stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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13 pages, 13284 KiB  
Article
Construction of CoP2-Mo4P3/NF Heterogeneous Interfacial Electrocatalyst for Boosting Water Splitting
by Yafeng Chen, Ge Meng, Ziwei Chang, Ningning Dai, Chang Chen, Xinmei Hou and Xiangzhi Cui
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13010074 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1987
Abstract
Developing highly efficient, cost effective and durable bifunctional electrocatalyst remains a key challenge for overall water splitting. Herein, a bifunctional catalyst CoP2-Mo4P3/NF with rich heterointerfaces was successfully prepared by a two-step hydrothermal-phosphorylation method. The synergistic interaction between [...] Read more.
Developing highly efficient, cost effective and durable bifunctional electrocatalyst remains a key challenge for overall water splitting. Herein, a bifunctional catalyst CoP2-Mo4P3/NF with rich heterointerfaces was successfully prepared by a two-step hydrothermal-phosphorylation method. The synergistic interaction between CoP2 and Mo4P3 heterogeneous interfaces can optimize the electronic structure of active sites, leading to the weak adsorption of H on the Mo sites and the increased redox activity of the Co site, resultantly improving the HER/OER bifunctional catalytic activity. The synthesized CoP2-Mo4P3/NF catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity in 1.0 M KOH with low overpotentials of 77.6 and 300.3 at 100 mA cm−2 for HER and OER, respectively. Additionally, the assembled CoP2-Mo4P3/NF||CoP2-Mo4P3/NF electrolyzer delivers a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of 1.59 V and remains stable for at least 370 h at 110 mA cm−2, indicating the potential application prospective in water splitting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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15 pages, 4205 KiB  
Article
FeNi LDH/V2CTx/NF as Self-Supported Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Highly Effective Overall Water Splitting
by Liming Yang, Tao Yang, Yafeng Chen, Yapeng Zheng, Enhui Wang, Zhentao Du, Kuo-Chih Chou and Xinmei Hou
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(15), 2640; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12152640 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3124
Abstract
The development of bifunctional electrocatalysts with efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still a key challenge at the current stage. Herein, FeNi LDH/V2CTx/nickel foam (NF) self-supported bifunctional electrode was prepared via deposition of FeNi [...] Read more.
The development of bifunctional electrocatalysts with efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still a key challenge at the current stage. Herein, FeNi LDH/V2CTx/nickel foam (NF) self-supported bifunctional electrode was prepared via deposition of FeNi LDH on V2CTx/NF substrate by hydrothermal method. Strong interfacial interaction between V2CTx/NF and FeNi LDH effectively prevented the aggregation of FeNi LDH, thus exposing more catalytic active sites, which improved electrical conductivity of the nanohybrids and structural stability. The results indicated that the prepared FeNi LDH/V2CTx/NF required 222 mV and 151 mV overpotential for OER and HER in 1 M KOH to provide 10 mA cm−2, respectively. Besides, the FeNi LDH/V2CTx/NF electrocatalysts were applied to overall water splitting, which achieved a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at 1.74 V. This work provides ideas for improving the electrocatalytic performance of electrocatalysts through simple synthesis strategies, structural adjustment, use of conductive substrates and formation of hierarchical structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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11 pages, 2721 KiB  
Article
Strong Tribocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation of Graphite Carbon Nitride g-C3N4 through Harvesting Friction Energy
by Zheng Wu, Taosheng Xu, Lujie Ruan, Jingfei Guan, Shihua Huang, Xiaoping Dong, Huamei Li and Yanmin Jia
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(12), 1981; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12121981 - 9 Jun 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2629
Abstract
Mechanical energy derived from friction is a kind of clean energy which is ubiquitous in nature. In this research, two-dimensional graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is successfully applied to the conversion of nitrogen (N2) fixation through collecting the [...] Read more.
Mechanical energy derived from friction is a kind of clean energy which is ubiquitous in nature. In this research, two-dimensional graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is successfully applied to the conversion of nitrogen (N2) fixation through collecting the mechanical energy generated from the friction between a g-C3N4 catalyst and a stirring rod. At the stirring speed of 1000 r/min, the tribocatalytic ammonia radical (NH4+) generation rate of g-C3N4 can achieve 100.56 μmol·L−1·g−1·h−1 using methanol as a positive charge scavenger, which is 3.91 times higher than that without any scavengers. Meanwhile, ammonia is not generated without a catalyst or contact between the g-C3N4 catalyst and the stirring rod. The tribocatalytic effect originates from the friction between the g-C3N4 catalyst and the stirring rod which results in the charges transfer crossing the contact interface, then the positive and negative charges remain on the catalyst and the stirring rod respectively, which can further react with the substance dissolved in the reaction solution to achieve the conversion of N2 to ammonia. The effects of number and stirring speed of the rods on the performance of g-C3N4 tribocatalytic N2 fixation are further investigated. This excellent and efficient tribocatalysis can provide a potential avenue towards harvesting the mechanical energy in a natural environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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13 pages, 4326 KiB  
Article
In Situ Construction of ZIF-67-Derived Hybrid Tricobalt Tetraoxide@Carbon for Supercapacitor
by Hao Gong, Shiguang Bie, Jian Zhang, Xianbin Ke, Xiaoxing Wang, Jianquan Liang, Nian Wu, Qichang Zhang, Chuanxian Luo and Yanmin Jia
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1571; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12091571 - 6 May 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3533
Abstract
The Co3O4 electrode is a very promising material owing to its ultrahigh capacitance. Nevertheless, the electrochemical performance of Co3O4-based supercapacitors is practically confined by the limited active sites and poor conductivity of Co3O4 [...] Read more.
The Co3O4 electrode is a very promising material owing to its ultrahigh capacitance. Nevertheless, the electrochemical performance of Co3O4-based supercapacitors is practically confined by the limited active sites and poor conductivity of Co3O4. Herein, we provide a facile synthetic strategy of tightly anchoring Co3O4 nanosheets to a carbon fiber conductive cloth (Co3O4@C) using the zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) sacrificial template via in situ impregnation and the pyrolysis method. Benefiting from the enhancement of conductivity and the increase in active sites, the binder-free porous Co3O4@C supercapacitor electrodes possess typical pseudocapacitance characteristics, with an acceptable specific capacitance of ~251 F/g at 1 A/g and long-term cycling stability (90% after cycling 5000 times at 3 A/g). Moreover, the asymmetric and flexible supercapacitor composed of Co3O4@C and activated carbon is further assembled, and it can drive the red LED for 6 min. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure-Based Energy Electrocatalysis)
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