Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting

Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting
To achieve large-scale hydrogen production through water electrolysis, it is crucial to develop non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Here, we prepared a tin, iron, and cobalt-based sulfide/oxide heterostructure catalyst (FeSnCo0.2SxOy/NF) on nickel foam using a solvothermal method. FeSnCo0.2SxOy/NF outperforms IrO2||Pt/C electrolyzers at a current density of 10 mA·cm-2. The formation of the sulfide/oxide heterostructure interface improves electron transfer and reduces the reaction energy barrier, thus facilitating the electrocatalytic process.
Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting
01 Catalyst Design and Synthesis

The researchers used nickel foam as a self-supporting substrate and synthesized a ternary metal sulfide/oxide heterostructure electrocatalyst (FeSnCo 0.2S x O y /NF) through a one-step solvothermal method.

This catalyst features a unique sulfide/oxide heterostructure interface that enhances catalytic performance.

02 Catalyst Performance Evaluation

The catalyst exhibits excellent performance in both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

Especially in OER, it shows low overpotential and Tafel slope, indicating good catalytic activity and kinetic properties.

03 Role of Interface Engineering

The interface engineering strategy optimizes the catalytic performance of the catalyst by modulating the electronic structure at the heterostructure interface.

Moreover, the synergistic effect between sulfides and oxides further enhances the overall performance of the catalyst.

04 Catalyst Stability

The catalyst demonstrated good durability during long-term stability tests, with performance remaining largely unchanged after extended reactions, ensuring its long-term stable operation in practical applications.

Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting

05 Catalyst Morphology and Structure

Observations through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal that the catalyst exhibits unique morphological and structural features, which are closely related to its excellent catalytic performance.

06 Catalyst Composition and Element Distribution

Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicates that various elements in the catalyst are uniformly distributed, aiding in efficient catalytic reactions.

07 Catalyst Catalytic Mechanism

The researchers explored the catalytic mechanism of the catalyst, attributing its excellent performance to abundant active sites and optimized reaction kinetics.

08 Illustrated Guide

Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting
Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting
Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting
Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting
Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting

Interface Engineering of Iron-Tin-Cobalt Sulfide/Oxide Heterostructure Catalysts for Synergistic Water Splitting

09 Conclusion

This article successfully designs and synthesizes an efficient non-precious metal bifunctional electrocatalyst through interface engineering strategies.

The catalyst exhibits excellent performance in both the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction, along with good stability and durability.

These research findings provide valuable references and insights for developing new high-efficiency water-splitting electrocatalysts.

This article is provided by the Hydrogen Energy Research Assistant.
Original link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/NRE.2023.9120106
▲ Disc Electrode Spin Coater

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