Jie Ying

Bio: Jie Ying is an academic researcher from Sun Yat-sen University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nanocages & Water splitting. The author has co-authored 2 publications.

Strategies for Developing Transition Metal Phosphides in Electrochemical Water Splitting.

Abstract: Electrochemical water splitting involving hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a greatly promising technology to generate sustainable and renewable energy resources, which relies on the exploration regarding the design of electrocatalysts with high efficiency, high stability, and low cost. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs), as nonprecious metallic electrocatalysts, have been extensively investigated and proved to be high-efficient electrocatalysts in both HER and OER. In this minireview, a general overview of recent progress in developing high-performance TMP electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting has been presented. Design strategies including composition engineering by element doping, hybridization, and tuning the molar ratio, structure engineering by porous structures, nanoarray structures, and amorphous structures, and surface/interface engineering by tuning surface wetting states, facet control, and novel substrate are summarized. Key scientific problems and prospective research directions are also briefly discussed.

Atomic-Scale Design of High-Performance Pt-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Abstract: Fuel cells are regarded as one of the most promising energy conversion devices because of their high energy density and zero emission. Development of high-performance Pt-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is vital to the commercial application of these fuel cell devices. Herein, we review the most significant breakthroughs in the development of high-performance Pt-based ORR electrocatalysts in the past decade. Novel and preferred nanostructures, including biaxially strained core-shell nanoplates, ultrafine jagged nanowires, nanocages with subnanometer-thick walls and nanoframes with three-dimensional surfaces, for excellent performance in ORR are emphasized. Important effects of strain, particle proximity, and surface morphology are fully discussed. The remaining changes and prospective research directions are also proposed.

A Facile Design of Solution-Phase Based VS2 Multifunctional Electrode for Green Energy Harvesting and Storage

Abstract: This work reports the fabrication of vanadium sulfide (VS2) microflower via one-step solvo-/hydro-thermal process. The impact of ethylene glycol on the VS2 morphology and crystal structure as well as the ensuing influences on electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and supercapacitor performance are explored and compared with those of the VS2 obtained from the standard pure-aqueous and pure-ethylene glycol solvents. The optimized VS2 obtained from the ethylene glycol and water mixed solvents exhibits a highly ordered unique assembly of petals resulting a highly open microflower structure. The electrode based on the optimized VS2 and exhibits a promising HER electrocatalysis in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1 M KOH electrolytes, attaining a low overpotential of 161 and 197 mV, respectively, at 10 mA.cm−2 with a small Tafel slope 83 and 139 mVdec−1. In addition, the optimized VS2 based electrode exhibits an excellent electrochemical durability over 13 h. Furthermore, the superior VS2 electrode based symmetric supercapacitor delivers a specific capacitance of 139 Fg−1 at a discharging current density of 0.7 Ag−1 and exhibits an enhanced energy density of 15.63 Whkg−1 at a power density 0.304 kWkg−1. Notably, the device exhibits the capacity retention of 86.8% after 7000 charge/discharge cycles, demonstrating a high stability of the VS2 electrode.

Co-Fe-P Nanosheet Arrays as a Highly Synergistic and Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Abstract: The rational design and synthesis of highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of critical importance to the large-scale production of hydrogen by water electrolysis. Here, we develop a bimetallic, synergistic, and highly efficient Co-Fe-P electrocatalyst for OER, by selecting a two-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) of Co-ZIF-L as the precursor. The Co-Fe-P electrocatalyst features pronounced synergistic effects induced by notable electron transfer from Co to Fe, and a large electrochemical active surface area achieved by organizing the synergistic Co-Fe-P into hierarchical nanosheet arrays with disordered grain boundaries. Such features facilitate the generation of abundant and efficiently exposed Co3+ sites for electrocatalytic OER and thus enable Co-Fe-P to deliver excellent activity (overpotential and Tafel slope as low as 240 mV and 36 mV dec-1, respectively, at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH solution). The Co-Fe-P electrocatalyst also shows great durability by steadily working for up to 24 h. Our work thus provides new insight into the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts based on nanoscale and/or electronic structure engineering.

Role of Noble- and Base-Metal Speciation and Surface Segregation in Ni2–xRhxP Nanocrystals on Electrocatalytic Water Splitting Reactions in Alkaline Media

Abstract: Transition-metal phosphides have proven to be surprisingly active electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting, but the nature of the “active” catalyst depends strongly on the solution pH, the identity of the metals, and whether the reactions are anodic [oxygen evolution reaction (OER)] or cathodic [hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)]. In order to understand the origin of this activity, the synthesis of well-defined, compositionally controlled precatalysts is needed, as are detailed catalytic studies and physicochemical characterization/activity assessment of catalysts at different stages. While base-metal phosphides of Ni and Co have the advantage of being earth-abundant, in alkaline media, they are less active and less stable than noble-metal phosphides such as Rh2P. As a means to combine the abundant nature of base metals with the activity and stability of noble metals, the first synthesis of colloidal Ni2–xRhxP nanocrystals by arrested precipitation routes is reported along with their composition-dependent activity for electrocatalytic HER and OER. Phase-pure samples of Ni2–xRhxP were realized at the Ni-rich (hexagonal, Fe2P-type) end (x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50) and Rh-rich (cubic, antifluorite-type) end (x = 1.75, 2.00). When assessed in terms of current density normalized to electrochemical surface area (ECSA) at a fixed potential, the most active precatalyst for OER is Ni1.75Rh0.25P, and for HER, it is Rh1.75Ni0.25P. Evaluation of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy and ECSA data before and after 10 h stability runs were performed. The data reveal surface compositions to be considerably richer in Ni and poorer in Rh and P relative to the bulk composition, particularly for Ni0.25Rh1.75P, where the surface ratio of Ni/Rh is nearly 2:1 and increases to 4:1 after HER catalysis. In all cases, surface phosphorus is completely depleted post catalysis, suggesting a sacrificial role for phosphide under alkaline conditions. Moreover, the activity of “Rh1.75Ni0.25P” for HER decreases over time, even as the ECSA continues to rise, attributed to a decrease in the more active and stable Rh sites relative to Ni on the surface. In contrast, the enhancement in OER activity of Ni2P with 12.5% Rh incorporation is attributed to restructuring upon phase segregation of Rh, suggesting that the noble metal may also play a sacrificial role and not directly participate in OER catalysis. The roles of minority noble metals (Rh) in base-metal phosphides for OER and of minority base metals in noble-metal (Rh) phosphides for HER are discussed in light of related data on Co2–xRhxP.

Recent advances in amorphous electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract: Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has attracted great attention as an important half-reaction in the electrochemical splitting of water for green hydrogen production. However, the inadequacy of highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts has impeded the development of this technology. Amorphous materials with long-range disordered structures have exhibited superior electrocatalytic performance compared to their crystalline counterparts due to more active sites and higher structural flexibility. This review summarizes the preparation methods of amorphous materials involving oxides, hydroxide, phosphides, sulfides, and their composites, and introduces the recent progress of amorphous OER electrocatalysts in acidic and alkaline media. Finally, the existing challenges and future perspectives for amorphous electrocatalysts for OER are discussed. Therefore, we believe that this review will guide designing amorphous OER electrocatalysts with high performance for future energy applications.