Synthesis of Uranium Single Atom from Radioactive Wastewater for Enhanced Water Dissociation and Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

As a common nuclide in radioactive wastewater, uranium (U) is generally treated by landfill, which induces the massive abandonment of uranium resources. In this work, a pulse voltammetry method for the synthesis of U single atoms on MoS 2 (U/MoS 2 ) nanosheets from radioactive wastewater for the electrocatalytic alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is reported. The mass loading of U single atoms is facilely controlled with high selectivity for coexisting ions in radioactive wastewater. In the electrolyte of 1 m of KOH, U/MoS 2 nanosheets with 5.2% of U single atoms exhibit relatively low overpotentials of 72 mV at 10 mA cm −2 . The mechanistic study reveals that the HER on U/MoS 2 includes the water dissociation on U single atoms to form OH* and H transfer from OH* to adjacent S-edge atoms. This procedure exhibits decreased activation energy for transition state in water dissociation and optimized Gibbs free energy for H* adsorption.

Engineering p‐Band Center of Oxygen Boosting H+ Intercalation in δ‐MnO2 for Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

“…The HRTEM image in Figure S19a at fully discharged state shows the generation of MnOOH. The reversible shift of the binding energy of O Mn−OH during the charging and discharging process is related to the H + de‐intercalation and intercalation process, because the H + storage density decreases with the H + de‐intercalation during the charging process, and the binding energy of H + will increase, [26] thus making O Mn−OH shift to a higher position. The discharging process is the opposite.…”

Green Electrosynthesis of 5,5′‐Azotetrazolate Energetic Materials Plus Energy‐Efficient Hydrogen Production Using Ruthenium Single‐Atom Catalysts

“…[42] In addition, a downshift of the binding energy for Se 3d peaks may also result from the bonding of Ru to the Se edge of MoSe 2 . [43] Moreover, the Mo 3d and Se 3d signals for CC@MoSe 2 @Ru presented the same binding energy location as CC@MoSe 2 , revealing the weak electronic and coordinate interaction between Ru NPs and the MoSe 2 surface, which may not lead to the transition of MoSe 2 . This result agreed with the Raman analysis.…”

Uranium Phthalocyanine-Anchored Acid-Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Water Electrolysis

“…15 For instance, Meek et al reported semiconductor devices using UO 2 16 and Wang et al designed a uranium-based catalyst, which exhibited a superior HER, 17 and Liu et al fabricated a uranium single atom-based electrode for the HER. 18 Lin et al employed the UO 6 catalyst to enhance the OER. 19 However, less work has been carried out on the electrocatalytic applications of uranium metal complexes, although they have been the major source of nuclear energy.…”

“…Apart from this, the organouranium complexes have been recently explored as potential materials in catalysis because of their attractive properties such as gas adsorption, nonlinear optics, and photoelectrochemical activity . For instance, Meek et al reported semiconductor devices using UO 2 and Wang et al designed a uranium-based catalyst, which exhibited a superior HER, and Liu et al fabricated a uranium single atom-based electrode for the HER . Lin et al employed the UO 6 catalyst to enhance the OER .…”