Engineering Lattice Planes of NiCo-LDH Ultrathin Sheets for Boosting Methanol/Ethanol Oxidation Performance

Abstract

Alcohol oxidation reactions are known to be significant in the advancement of sustainable, renewable energy sources. Searching for catalytic materials with powerful, reliable, and economic performance is of great importance. Due to their excellent intrinsic performance, outstanding stability, and inexpensiveness, ultrathin layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are considered to be competitive electrocatalysts. However, the electrocatalytic property of ultrathin LDHs is still confined by the predominant exposure of the (003) basal plane. Hence, we have engineered active edge facets in ultrathin NiCo-LDHs, which possess abundant oxygen vacancies (V O ), by a facile one-step strategy. Experimental results show that NiCo-LDH-E synthesized in ethanol demonstrates an ultrathin structure, rich oxygen vacancies, and more active facets, exhibiting a higher electrochemical active area of 3.25 cm 2 , which is 1.18 times that of NiCo-LDH-W (2.75 cm 2 ). In addition, the current density of NiCo-LDH-E in methanol and ethanol oxidation reactions could reach 159.5 and 136.3 mA cm −2 , which are 2.8 and 1.7 times that of NiCo-LDH-W, respectively.

Alkali Containing Layered Metal Oxides as Catalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…The OER is an unwanted side reaction in NiO x alkaline batteries, and it has long been found that Fe impurities enhance such a process, [66–69] with this attracting significant attention to the effects of Fe‐doping in NiO x electrodes for OER electrocatalysis in alkaline media. Many studies have indeed shown that Fe‐doped nickel oxides are promising electrocatalysts for the OER [70–74] .…”

Electronic and Structural Modification of Three-Dimensional Porous NiCo@NF as a Robust Electrocatalyst for CO2 Emission-Free Methanol Upgradation to Boost Hydrogen Co-production

“…The majority of the reported NiCo-based electrocatalysts demonstrated complete methanol oxidation to convert methanol into CO 2 , but it is required to selectively convert methanol into a valuable formate product. 37,42,43 Based on the above considerations, we present structural and electronic modification approaches to overcome the selectivity and durability issues of the active sites during MOR. The porous nanostructures of 3D bimetallic Ni−Co with surface oxygen vacancies were generated on 3D nickel foam (O v -NiCo@NF) by an ultrafast and environment-friendly electro-deposition method without using any soft/hard template as a proficient composite that efficiently catalyzes both MOR and HER at the anode and cathode, respectively.…”

“…Most reported NiCo-based electrocatalysts were synthesized using challenging synthesis protocols at high temperatures and pressures, which required more time and money, so synthesis protocols should be ultrafast and environmentally friendly. ,− Soft/hard templates have been utilized to create porosity in porous nanostructured materials, but removing these templates required harsh conditions and extra effort. , The durability of electrocatalysts is an important factor in MOR activity, and most of the reported electrocatalysts had very low durability because the CO intermediate generated during methanol oxidation blocked the active sites. , As a result, there is an urgent need to develop electrocatalysts with high durability for MOR. The majority of the reported NiCo-based electrocatalysts demonstrated complete methanol oxidation to convert methanol into CO 2 , but it is required to selectively convert methanol into a valuable formate product. ,, …”