Electronic modulation and interface engineering of electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts toward water splitting

Abstract

Nowdays, electrocatalytic water splitting has been regarded as one of the most efficient means to approach the urgent energy crisis and environmental issues. However, to speed up the electrocatalytic conversion efficiency of their half reactions including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), electrocatalysts are usually essential to reduce their kinetic energy barriers. Electrospun nanomaterials possess a unique one‐dimensional structure for outstanding electron and mass transportation, large specific surface area, and the possibilities of flexibility with the porous feature, which are good candidates as efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting. In this review, we focus on the recent research progress on the electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts for HER, OER, and overall water splitting reaction. Specifically, the insights of the influence of the electronic modulation and interface engineering of these electrocatalysts on their electrocatalytic activities will be deeply discussed and highlighted. Furthermore, the challenges and development opportunities of the electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts for water splitting are featured. Based on the achievements of the significantly enhanced performance from the electronic modulation and interface engineering of these electrocatalysts, full utilization of these materials for practical energy conversion is anticipated.

Emerging of Heterostructure Materials in Energy Storage: A Review

“…Fourth, the strong interactions (chemical bands, van der Walls’ force, and electrostatic force) between multiple phases can enhance the structural stability, and prolong the cycling lifespans. [ 7 ] Finally, the charge redistribution undergoing in the building blocks of heterostructures will induces more active sites for energy storage, enhancing the reversible capacity of electrodes.…”

Manipulation of Mott−Schottky Ni/CeO2 Heterojunctions into N‐Doped Carbon Nanofibers for High‐Efficiency Electrochemical Water Splitting

“…[11,12] In this scenario, it becomes extremely urgent to seek earth-abundant and highefficiency alternative electrocatalysts, especially, bifunctional electrocatalysts for simultaneously realizing both HER and OER, to further simplify the electrochemical equipment and reduce the production cost. [13] By far, a plethora of transition metal-based electrocatalysts, including alloys, [14] oxides/hydroxides, [15,16] chalcogenides, [17,18] phosphides, [19,20] and their nanocomposites, [21,22] have attracted immense scientific attention as promising and competent bifunctional candidates in view of their abundant reserves, tunable chemical composition/structure, valence state diversity, and excellent activity/stability. Particularly, metallic Ni has been demonstrated to have great promise in water electrolysis due to its low price, low electric resistance, and appropriate OH-Ni 2+δ (0 ≤ δ ≤ 1.5) bond strength enabling favorable intermediate adsorption and water dissociation.…”

Layered FeCoNi double hydroxides with tailored surface electronic configurations induced by oxygen and unsaturated metal vacancies for boosting the overall water splitting process

“…Among these operable methods, constructing oxygen vacancies (O v ) that create unsaturated metal sites in a LDH nanostructure can significantly enhance the electrocatalytic HER/OER activities of electrocatalysts due to the enhanced electroconductivity and generate more exposed active sites with the generation of gap states and dangling bonds. [50][51][52] Through these approaches, the adsorption/desorption of HER/OER intermediates can be optimized to obtain boosted electrocatalytic activity. In this paper, an FeCoNi medium entropy LDH grown on Ni foam with oxygen vacancies and unsaturated metal sites (F-FeCoNi-Ov LDH/NF) is synthesized by a surface activation approach through pre-covering fluorine and post-boronizing processes for both HER and OER electrocatalysis for overall water splitting.…”