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Whilst MXenes (2D carbides and nitrides) have become highly popular in several research fields including the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), unfortunately they are not competitive HER electrocatalysts in their bulk form (MAX phases). The related MAB (2D‐like bulk borides) phases and the derived 2D MBenes, however, are less studied but show better HER properties. Herein, two highly HER‐active and abundant MAB phases, Ni
n +1ZnBn (n = 1, 2), are studied experimentally and computationally. The pressed pellet electrodes from bulk polycrystalline powders of these phases drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2at impressive overpotentials ofη 10 = −0.171 V (n = 1) andη 10= −0.145 V (n = 2) to efficiently produce hydrogen. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations prove that the most active site is the hollow site on the nickel basal plane, showing a free energy value comparable to that of the hollow site of Pt (111). This study paves the way for further development of bulk and nanoscale MAB phases for clean energy applications. -
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Abstract Transition‐metal borides (TMBs) have recently attracted attention as excellent hydrogen evolution (HER) electrocatalysts in bulk crystalline materials. Herein, we show for the first time that VB and V3B4have high electrocatalytic HER activity. Furthermore, we show that the HER activity (in 0.5
m H2SO4) increases with increasing boron chain condensation in vanadium borides: Using a −23 mV overpotential decrement derived from −0.296 mV (for VB at −10 mA cm−2current density) and −0.273 mV (for V3B4) we accurately predict the overpotential of VB2(−0.204 mV) as well as that of unstudied V2B3(−0.250 mV) and hypothetical “V5B8” (−0.227 mV). We then derived an exponential equation that predicts the overpotentials of known and hypothetical Vx By phases containing at least a boron chain. These results provide a direct correlation between crystal structure and HER activity, thus paving the way for the design of even better electrocatalytic materials through structure–activity relationships. -
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Abstract Transition‐metal borides (TMBs) have recently attracted attention as excellent hydrogen evolution (HER) electrocatalysts in bulk crystalline materials. Herein, we show for the first time that VB and V3B4have high electrocatalytic HER activity. Furthermore, we show that the HER activity (in 0.5
m H2SO4) increases with increasing boron chain condensation in vanadium borides: Using a −23 mV overpotential decrement derived from −0.296 mV (for VB at −10 mA cm−2current density) and −0.273 mV (for V3B4) we accurately predict the overpotential of VB2(−0.204 mV) as well as that of unstudied V2B3(−0.250 mV) and hypothetical “V5B8” (−0.227 mV). We then derived an exponential equation that predicts the overpotentials of known and hypothetical Vx By phases containing at least a boron chain. These results provide a direct correlation between crystal structure and HER activity, thus paving the way for the design of even better electrocatalytic materials through structure–activity relationships. -
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Abstract Abundant transition metal borides are emerging as substitute electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts for noble metals. Herein, an unusual canonic‐like behavior of the
c lattice parameter in the AlB2‐type solid solution Cr1–x Mox B2(x = 0, 0.25, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.75, 1) and its direct correlation to the HER activity in 0.5 M H2SO4solution are reported. The activity increases with increasingx , reaching its maximum atx = 0.6 before decreasing again. At high current densities, Cr0.4Mo0.6B2outperforms Pt/C, as it needs 180 mV less overpotential to drive an 800 mA cm−2current density. Cr0.4Mo0.6B2has excellent long‐term stability and durability showing no significant activity loss after 5000 cycles and 25 h of operation in acid. First‐principles calculations have correctly reproduced the nonlinear dependence of thec lattice parameter and have shown that the mixed metal/B layers, such as (110), promote hydrogen evolution more efficiently forx = 0.6, supporting the experimental results.
