Hydrogen co-production via nickel-gold electrocatalysis of water and formaldehyde

Zhixin Li; Yan Zhang; Qianqian Yang; Jindong Wu; Zhi Ren; Fengzhan Si; Jing Zhao; Jiean Chen

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107994

Hydrogen co-production via nickel-gold electrocatalysis of water and formaldehyde

iScience. 2023 Sep 22;26(10):107994. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107994. eCollection 2023 Oct 20.

Authors

Zhixin Li¹, Yan Zhang², Qianqian Yang², Jindong Wu², Zhi Ren³, Fengzhan Si⁴, Jing Zhao¹, Jiean Chen²

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
² Pingshan Translational Medicine Center, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China.
³ College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
⁴ Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Energy Electrocatalytic Materials, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.

Abstract

Hydrogen is one of the most promising future energy sources due to its highly efficient energy storage and carbon-free features. However, the energy input required for a hydrogen production protocol is an essential factor affecting its widespread adoption. Water electrolysis for hydrogen production currently serves a vital role in the industrial field, but the high overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) dramatically impedes its practical application. The formaldehyde oxidation reaction (FOR) has emerged as a more thermodynamically favorable alternative, and the innovation of compatible electrodes may steer the direction of technological evolution. We have designed Au-Vo-NiO/CC as a catalyst that triggers the electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde, efficiently producing H₂ at the ultra-low potential of 0.47 V (vs. RHE) and maintaining long-term stability. Integrated with the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), this bipolar H₂ production protocol achieves a nearly 100% Faraday efficiency (FE).

Keywords: Energy materials; Physical inorganic chemistry.