Hydrogen Evolution Enhancement over a Cobalt-Based Schottky Interface

Yu HZ, Wang Y, Ying J, Wu SM, Lu Y, Hu J, Hu JS, Shen L, Xiao YX, Geng W, Chang GG, Janiak C, Li WH, Yang XY (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces American Chemical Society

Book Volume: 11

Pages Range: 27641-27647

Journal Issue: 31

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b03368

Abstract

A proof-of-concept strategy for significant enhancement of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance of transition metals via construction of a metal/semiconductor Schottky junction is presented. The decoration of low-cost commercial TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of microscale Co dendrites causes a significant charge transfer across the Co/TiO2 Schottky interface and enhances the local electron density at the Co surface, confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results and density functional theory calculations. The Co/TiO2 Schottky catalyst displays superior HER activity with a turnover frequency of 0.052 s-1 and an exchange current density of 79 μA cm-2, which are about 4.3 and 4.0 times greater than that of pristine Co, respectively. Moreover, the Co/TiO2 Schottky catalyst displays excellent electrochemical durability for long-term operation in both alkaline solution and high saline solution. Theoretical calculations suggest that the Schottky junction plays an important role to optimize hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH*) by tuning the electronic structure, which enhances the performance for HER of the Co/TiO2 Schottky catalyst. This study of modulating the electronic structure of the catalysts via the Schottky junction could provide valuable insights for designing and synthesizing low-cost, high-performance electrocatalysts.

Involved external institutions

Wuhan University of Technology CN China (CN) Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf DE Germany (DE) Sun Yat-Sen University CN China (CN) Hubei University of Technology (HBUT) / 湖北工业大学 CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Yu, H.-Z., Wang, Y., Ying, J., Wu, S.-M., Lu, Y., Hu, J.,... Yang, X.-Y. (2019). Hydrogen Evolution Enhancement over a Cobalt-Based Schottky Interface. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11(31), 27641-27647. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b03368

MLA:

Yu, Hao-Zheng, et al. "Hydrogen Evolution Enhancement over a Cobalt-Based Schottky Interface." ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 11.31 (2019): 27641-27647.

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