Electrodeposited Organic–Inorganic Nanohybrid as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting

Abstract

Rational engineering of novel nanohybrid materials for sustainable and efficient energy conversion has gained extensive research interest. Cross-linked nanosheets of organic–inorganic nanohybrids (BSeF/Ni­(OH)2) were fabricated by one-step reductive electrosynthesis and subsequently applied for electrocatalytic water electrolysis. The organic–inorganic nanohybrids consist of benzo­[2,1,3]­selenadiazole-5-carbonyl phenylalanine (BSeF) cross-linked with nickel ions (Ni-BSeF) and nickel hydroxides (Ni­(OH)2), which provide abundant active sites and feasible charge transfer at the electrocatalytic interface. The resulting electrodeposited nanohybrid BSeF/Ni­(OH)2 exhibits bifunctional electrocatalytic performance with 240 and 401 mV of overpotential at +100 and −100 mA cm–2 for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively. The BSeF/Ni­(OH)2 offers a longer electrocatalytic activity of 20 h for OER and HER at applied high current densities of +400 and −200 mA cm–2. Coupled with the high OER and HER activity, the two-electrode-based system of BSeF/Ni­(OH)2 shows a low cell potential of 1.54 V at 10 mA cm–2. The electrocatalytic performance of Ni-BSeF and Ni­(OH)2-based organic–inorganic nanohybrids provides an efficient way to develop a nanohybrid-based catalytic system for energy conversion.

Electrodeposition of Binder-Free Peptide/Co(OH)2Nanohybrid Electrodes for Solid-State Symmetric Supercapacitors

“…This type of morphology facilitates the energy storage behavior. , Figure S4 shows the X-ray diffraction (XRD) profile of the hybrid material. The absence of additional peaks in the electrodeposited BSeYY/Co­(OH) 2 /CP nanohybrid as compared to bare CP is ascribed to the amorphous nature of the nanohybrid. − The selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern (Figure S5) confirms the amorphous nature of the hybrid nanomaterial. , The expensive binder-free method does not only minimizes the inactive surface area but also reduces the extra contact resistance during the electrochemical analysis. In this work, an in situ potentiostatic electrodeposition method was used to synthesize binder-free BSeYY/Co­(OH) 2 /CP nanohybrids.…”

“…60−62 The selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern (Figure S5) confirms the amorphous nature of the hybrid nanomaterial. 28,63 The expensive binder-free method does not only minimizes the inactive surface area but also reduces the extra contact resistance during the electrochemical analysis. In this work, an in situ potentiostatic electrodeposition method was used to synthesize binder-free BSeYY/Co(OH) 2 /CP nanohybrids.…”

“…Bioinspired hybrid nanomaterials have been explored in the area of sustainable energy storage considering their promising properties, such as ecofriendly behavior, flexible nature, low cost, high energy storage capacity, and cyclic stability. − Several electrode materials such as carbon materials, oxides, − hydroxides, and conducting polymers have been explored to fabricate energy-storage devices. Cobalt hydroxide-based hybrid materials have paramount importance, which provide a sustainable energy path for the generation of clean, cost-effective, and renewable energy storage properties. − Currently, researchers are engaged in the development of organic–inorganic nanohybrid materials. ,,− Organic molecules with acid functionalities have drawn considerable attention due to their binding with inorganic moieties, which form organic–inorganic nanohybrid materials. ,,− Therefore, structurally flexible and environmentally compatible self-assembling peptides with metal interacting functional groups have been used for the construction of nanohybrid materials. ,, In addition, the reported self-assembling peptides such as diphenylalanine and aromatic derivatives have exhibited immense mechanical, electrochemical, and optical properties. ,,, Rosenman et al have modified a carbon electrode with bioinspired diphenylalanine-based peptide nanotubes for supercapacitor (SC) applications . Furthermore, Wang et al have fabricated a device to light up a light-emitting diode (LED) by using a Fmoc-EF-NH 2 -based hydrogel and a thin layer of TiO 2 .…”

Electrochemically Controlled Synthesis of Ultrathin Nickel Hydroxide Nanosheets for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution

“…The depletion of fossil fuels and growing environmental problems have forced people to seek sustainable and clean energy. , Hydrogen (H 2 ) has the advantages of a high combustion value and no pollution, making it an ideal source of renewable clean energy. − The electrolysis of water to produce H 2 not only is simple and practical but also can yield high-purity H 2 , which is a promising approach for the conversion of renewable energy into hydrogen energy. − Water splitting is composed of two key half-reactions: oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). − Between them, HER has great thermodynamic advantages. , In contrast, OER involves a complex multiproton coupled electron transfer process, resulting in slower oxygen evolution kinetics, which requires a higher overpotential to accelerate the reaction, thus becoming the bottleneck of water splitting technology. − Therefore, it is very important to prepare highly active OER electrocatalysts to decrease the activation energy of the reaction and accelerate the kinetics of oxygen evolution, thereby improving the efficiency of water splitting. Currently, Ir/Ru oxides are recognized as one kind of the most active OER electrocatalysts .…”

A platinum nanoparticle doped self-assembled peptide bolaamphiphile hydrogel as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction

“…With the growing concern about environmental issues and the rise in energy demands, clean and renewable energy sources become inevitable. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In particular, molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) has gain attention as one of the favourable alternative green energy carriers for diminishing fossil fuels in view of its highly pure products, high gravimetric energy density and environmental companionability. [12][13][14][15] Despite its application prospect, the exploration of costeffective and eco-friendly hydrogen production has become a great challenge for scientists in the 21 st century.…”