Recent Advances in Transition Metal Tellurides (TMTs) and Phosphides (TMPs) for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis

Abstract

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a developing and promising technology to deliver clean energy using renewable sources. Presently, electrocatalytic water (H2O) splitting is one of the low-cost, affordable, and reliable industrial-scale effective hydrogen (H2) production methods. Nevertheless, the most active platinum (Pt) metal-based catalysts for the HER are subject to high cost and substandard stability. Therefore, a highly efficient, low-cost, and stable HER electrocatalyst is urgently desired to substitute Pt-based catalysts. Due to their low cost, outstanding stability, low overpotential, strong electronic interactions, excellent conductivity, more active sites, and abundance, transition metal tellurides (TMTs) and transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts. This brief review focuses on the progress made over the past decade in the use of TMTs and TMPs for efficient green hydrogen production. Combining experimental and theoretical results, a detailed summary of their development is described. This review article aspires to provide the state-of-the-art guidelines and strategies for the design and development of new highly performing electrocatalysts for the upcoming energy conversion and storage electrochemical technologies.

Pentlandite Compound-Anchored CuSCN as a Stable Electrocatalyst in Highly Alkaline Solutions

“…Recently, metal alloy nanoparticles have been encapsulated with heteroatom (S, N, B, P)-supported carbon materials to avoid material corrosion in OER reactions. − For example, Xu et al encapsulated the metal alloy surface with Co/N-doped ultrathin carbon layers and prevented metal corrosion during OER electrocatalysis . However, in our observation, encapsulating the surface layer with highly stable and OER electroactive materials like FeCo, FeNi, and NiCo works bifunctionally by elevating OER activity and also preventing the dissolution of sulfides in alkaline solutions …”

“…39 However, in our observation, encapsulating the surface layer with highly stable and OER electroactive materials like FeCo, FeNi, and NiCo works bifunctionally by elevating OER activity and also preventing the dissolution of sulfides in alkaline solutions. 40 CuSCN has been prepared by different deposition methods like chemical bath deposition, hydrothermal, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction, and electrodeposition methods. 41−43 Electrodeposition methods are simple and costeffective and can be effectively controlled by applied potential.…”

Synthesis of Electrical Conductive Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Electrochemical Applications

“…Electrochemical energy conversion is a reliable way to obtain green and clean energy, 2D ECMOFs have the characteristics of high conductivity, high porosity and tunable structure, and can be used as electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), ORR, OER, electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) and catalysts for other electrochemical reactions, with a wide range of application prospects. [7,[108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116] For example, Marinescu et al [45] applied Co-BHT and Co-THT for HER electrode materials for the first time, maintaining high catalyst loading even in strongly acidic (pH 1.3) solutions and excellent stability, with only 0.34 V (Co-BHT) and 0.53 V (Co-THT) overpotentials to reach 10 mA • cm À 2 of current density respectively. In addition, Feng et al [46] prepared monolayer Ni-THT film covered on a glassy carbon electrode for HER with a current density of 10 mA • cm À 2 , with an overpotential of 333 mV, was superior to the carbon nanotube-supported molecular catalysts [117] and heteroatom-doped graphene catalysts.…”

Phyto‐synthesized ZnO/ZrO2 binary oxide as a new electro‐catalyst for water splitting application ZnO/ZrO2 for water splitting application

“…Additional energy is required to overcome the overpotential induced by polarization of various electrode processes. Both processes require active and robust electrocatalysts to speed up the reaction process and, ultimately, lower the electrolysis overpotential in order to ensure the electrolyzer is practically efficient [16] . Commercially available water electrolyzer catalysts rely on noble metals (for example, Pt for HER and IrO 2 for OER), which are distinguished by the ideal adsorption energy of surface intermediates While the high cost and scarcity of electrolyzers have prevented their widespread industrial application.…”

“…Both processes require active and robust electrocatalysts to speed up the reaction process and, ultimately, lower the electrolysis overpotential in order to ensure the electrolyzer is practically efficient. [16] Commercially available water electrolyzer catalysts rely on noble metals (for example, Pt for HER and IrO 2 for OER), which are distinguished by the ideal adsorption energy of surface intermediates While the high cost and scarcity of electrolyzers have prevented their widespread industrial application. Numerous attempts have been pushed to look for novel electrocatalysts based on noble metals free components in order to speed up the commercialization of electrocatalytic water splitting and reduce its industrial cost.…”