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Flexible tungsten disulfide superstructure engineering for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution in anion exchange membrane water electrolysers.

Authors :
Xie L
Wang L
Liu X
Chen J
Wen X
Zhao W
Liu S
Zhao Q
Source :
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2024 Jul 08; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 5702. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 08.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis employing non-precious metal electrocatalysts is a promising strategy for achieving sustainable hydrogen production. However, it still suffers from many challenges, including sluggish alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics, insufficient activity and limited lifetime of non-precious metal electrocatalysts for ampere-level-current-density alkaline HER. Here, we report an efficient alkaline HER strategy at industrial-level current density wherein a flexible WS <subscript>2</subscript> superstructure is designed to serve as the cathode catalyst for AEM water electrolysis. The superstructure features bond-free van der Waals interaction among the low Young's modulus nanosheets to ensure excellent mechanical flexibility, as well as a stepped edge defect structure of nanosheets to realize high catalytic activity and a favorable reaction interface micro-environment. The unique flexible WS <subscript>2</subscript> superstructure can effectively withstand the impact of high-density gas-liquid exchanges and facilitate mass transfer, endowing excellent long-term durability under industrial-scale current density. An AEM electrolyser containing this catalyst at the cathode exhibits a cell voltage of 1.70 V to deliver a constant catalytic current density of 1 A cm <superscript>-2</superscript> over 1000 h with a negligible decay rate of 9.67 μV h <superscript>-1</superscript> .<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2041-1723
Volume :
15
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Nature communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38977693
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50117-2