Refining the surface properties of WO2.7 by vacancy engineering and transition metals doping for enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction

Huawei Huang, Liangliang Xu, Dong Yoon Woo, Seongbeen Kim, Sung Min Kim, Yong Kyeong Kim, Jaeho Byeon, Jinwoo Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer is a promising and green technology for hydrogen production. However, the high energy barriers for the water dissociation step for breaking the strong H[sbnd]O[sbnd]H covalent bond results in sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics at the cathode. Herein, we present a strategy to optimize the morphology and surface properties of WO2.7 by introducing oxygen vacancies and doping with various transition metals. The experimental analysis demonstrates that the developed Co-WO2.7-x and Ni-WO2.7-x with ultrafine nanorods structure provide a larger electrochemical surface area than the other synthesized catalysts. Furthermore, theoretical analysis reveals that Co-WO2.7-x has the lowest energy barrier (0.65 eV) for the water dissociation step, which is much lower than that of WO2.7 (2.61 eV). Consequently, the Co-WO2.7-x delivers a current of 10 mA cm−2 at a small overpotential of 59 mV for alkaline HER.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalChemical Engineering Journal
Volume451
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Generated from Scopus record by KAUST IRTS on 2023-09-21

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Chemistry
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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