Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a key process in high-efficiency proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) devices. To replace the use of Pt-based HER catalyst, tungsten carbide (W<sub>2</sub>C) is one of the most promising non-noble-metal-based catalysts with l...

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Main Authors: Jian Ouyang, Yu Sun, Yiqiong Zhang, Juzhe Liu, Xin Bo, Zenglin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/1/84
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author Jian Ouyang
Yu Sun
Yiqiong Zhang
Juzhe Liu
Xin Bo
Zenglin Wang
author_facet Jian Ouyang
Yu Sun
Yiqiong Zhang
Juzhe Liu
Xin Bo
Zenglin Wang
author_sort Jian Ouyang
collection DOAJ
description Catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a key process in high-efficiency proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) devices. To replace the use of Pt-based HER catalyst, tungsten carbide (W<sub>2</sub>C) is one of the most promising non-noble-metal-based catalysts with low cost, replicable catalytic performance, and durability. However, the preparation access to scalable production of W<sub>2</sub>C catalysts is inevitable. Herein, we introduced a facile protocol to achieve the tungsten carbide species by plasma treatment under a CH<sub>4</sub> atmosphere from the WO<sub>3</sub> precursor. Moreover, the heterogeneous structure of the tungsten carbide/tungsten oxide nanosheets further enhances the catalytic activity for HER with the enlarged specific surface area and the synergism on the interfaces. The prepared tungsten carbide/tungsten oxide heterostructure nanosheets (WO<sub>3-x</sub>-850-P) exhibit exceptional HER catalytic activity and stable longevity in acid electrolytes. This work provides a facile and effective method to construct high-performance and non-precious-metal-based electrocatalysts for industrial-scale water electrolysis.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-2c6b6bd5240940148a40a4346d4c27602025-01-10T13:18:49ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-013018410.3390/molecules30010084Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen EvolutionJian Ouyang0Yu Sun1Yiqiong Zhang2Juzhe Liu3Xin Bo4Zenglin Wang5Shenzhen Kohodo Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518109, ChinaKey Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaKey Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaKey Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaKey Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaCatalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a key process in high-efficiency proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) devices. To replace the use of Pt-based HER catalyst, tungsten carbide (W<sub>2</sub>C) is one of the most promising non-noble-metal-based catalysts with low cost, replicable catalytic performance, and durability. However, the preparation access to scalable production of W<sub>2</sub>C catalysts is inevitable. Herein, we introduced a facile protocol to achieve the tungsten carbide species by plasma treatment under a CH<sub>4</sub> atmosphere from the WO<sub>3</sub> precursor. Moreover, the heterogeneous structure of the tungsten carbide/tungsten oxide nanosheets further enhances the catalytic activity for HER with the enlarged specific surface area and the synergism on the interfaces. The prepared tungsten carbide/tungsten oxide heterostructure nanosheets (WO<sub>3-x</sub>-850-P) exhibit exceptional HER catalytic activity and stable longevity in acid electrolytes. This work provides a facile and effective method to construct high-performance and non-precious-metal-based electrocatalysts for industrial-scale water electrolysis.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/1/84tungsten carbidetungsten oxideheterogeneous electrocatalystshydrogen evolution reaction
spellingShingle Jian Ouyang
Yu Sun
Yiqiong Zhang
Juzhe Liu
Xin Bo
Zenglin Wang
Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Molecules
tungsten carbide
tungsten oxide
heterogeneous electrocatalysts
hydrogen evolution reaction
title Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_full Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_fullStr Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_full_unstemmed Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_short Tungsten Carbide/Tungsten Oxide Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
title_sort tungsten carbide tungsten oxide catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution
topic tungsten carbide
tungsten oxide
heterogeneous electrocatalysts
hydrogen evolution reaction
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/1/84
work_keys_str_mv AT jianouyang tungstencarbidetungstenoxidecatalystsforefficientelectrocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT yusun tungstencarbidetungstenoxidecatalystsforefficientelectrocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT yiqiongzhang tungstencarbidetungstenoxidecatalystsforefficientelectrocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT juzheliu tungstencarbidetungstenoxidecatalystsforefficientelectrocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT xinbo tungstencarbidetungstenoxidecatalystsforefficientelectrocatalytichydrogenevolution
AT zenglinwang tungstencarbidetungstenoxidecatalystsforefficientelectrocatalytichydrogenevolution