A solvent-free strategy for synthesis of Co9S8 nanoparticles entrapped, N, S-codoped mesoporous carbon as hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst

Huan Yu; Sijia Miao; Duihai Tang; Wenting Zhang; Yuan Huang; Zhen-An Qiao; Jianjun Wang; Zhen Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2019.09.121

A solvent-free strategy for synthesis of Co₉S₈ nanoparticles entrapped, N, S-codoped mesoporous carbon as hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2020 Jan 15:558:155-162. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.09.121. Epub 2019 Sep 30.

Authors

Huan Yu¹, Sijia Miao¹, Duihai Tang², Wenting Zhang¹, Yuan Huang³, Zhen-An Qiao⁴, Jianjun Wang³, Zhen Zhao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, PR China.
² Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, PR China. Electronic address: tangduihai@163.com.
³ State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, PR China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, PR China.
⁵ Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, PR China. Electronic address: zhaozhen@synu.edu.cn.

PMID: 31586735
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.09.121

Abstract

A facile solvent-free method was developed to synthesize Co₉S₈ nanoparticles entrapped, N, S-codoped mesoporous carbon, which involved two steps, including hand milling and carbonation. This synthetic route did not require any solvent during the entire process. Moreover, no water and/or acid solution were needed to remove the impurity from the calcined samples. The final products had mesoporous structures, as well as high Co, N, and S contents. In details, N and S atoms both doped into the carboneous matrix, and the Co₉S₈ nanoparticles also dispersed well in the composites. The characterization results revealed that the ratios of the precursors and the calcination temperatures both determined the porosities of the final products, which could further affect the electrocatalytic activities. The optional sample, G2.0T1.0Co0.3-900, revealed excellent electrocatalytic activities for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under acidic condition, requiring overpotential of 71 mV to afford a current density of 10 mA cm^-2. Additionally, G2.0T1.0Co0.3-900 also showed superior stability and duration.

Keywords: Co(9)S(8) nanoparticle; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Mesoporous carbon; N, S-codoping; Solvent-free strategy.