Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution

Jieun Yang, Abdul Rahman Mohmad, Yan Wang, Raymond Fullon, Xiuju Song, Fang Zhao, Ibrahim Bozkurt, Mathias Augustin, Elton J.G. Santos, Hyeon Suk Shin, Wenjing Zhang, Damien Voiry, Hu Young Jeong, Manish Chhowalla

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter

Abstract

Metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)1–8 are good catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The overpotential and Tafel slope values of metallic phases and edges9 of two-dimensional (2D) TMDs approach those of Pt. However, the overall current density of 2D TMD catalysts remains orders of magnitude lower (~10–100 mA cm−2) than industrial Pt and Ir electrolysers (>1,000 mA cm−2)10,11. Here, we report the synthesis of the metallic 2H phase of niobium disulfide with additional niobium (2H Nb1+xS2, where x is ~0.35)12 as a HER catalyst with current densities of >5,000 mA cm−2 at ~420 mV versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. We find the exchange current density at 0 V for 2H Nb1.35S2 to be ~0.8 mA cm−2, corresponding to a turnover frequency of ~0.2 s−1. We demonstrate an electrolyser based on a 2H Nb1+ xS2 cathode that can generate current densities of 1,000 mA cm−2. Our theoretical results reveal that 2H Nb1+ xS2 with Nb-terminated surface has free energy for hydrogen adsorption that is close to thermoneutral, facilitating HER. Therefore, 2H Nb1+ xS2 could be a viable catalyst for practical electrolysers.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNature materials
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - Jan 1 2019

Fingerprint

Niobium
disulfides
niobium
Disulfides
Hydrogen
Current density
current density
catalysts
Catalysts
Transition metals
hydrogen
transition metals
Free energy
Cathodes
cathodes
free energy
slopes
Adsorption
Electrodes
adsorption

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

Cite this

Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution. / Yang, Jieun; Mohmad, Abdul Rahman; Wang, Yan; Fullon, Raymond; Song, Xiuju; Zhao, Fang; Bozkurt, Ibrahim; Augustin, Mathias; Santos, Elton J.G.; Shin, Hyeon Suk; Zhang, Wenjing; Voiry, Damien; Jeong, Hu Young; Chhowalla, Manish.

In: Nature materials, 01.01.2019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter

Yang, J, Mohmad, AR, Wang, Y, Fullon, R, Song, X, Zhao, F, Bozkurt, I, Augustin, M, Santos, EJG, Shin, HS, Zhang, W, Voiry, D, Jeong, HY & Chhowalla, M 2019, 'Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution', Nature materials. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0463-8
Yang J, Mohmad AR, Wang Y, Fullon R, Song X, Zhao F et al. Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution. Nature materials. 2019 Jan 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0463-8
Yang, Jieun ; Mohmad, Abdul Rahman ; Wang, Yan ; Fullon, Raymond ; Song, Xiuju ; Zhao, Fang ; Bozkurt, Ibrahim ; Augustin, Mathias ; Santos, Elton J.G. ; Shin, Hyeon Suk ; Zhang, Wenjing ; Voiry, Damien ; Jeong, Hu Young ; Chhowalla, Manish. / Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution. In: Nature materials. 2019.
@article{40f157663a9c4f49a1d7d67e6e5a4ef1,
title = "Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution",
abstract = "Metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)1–8 are good catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The overpotential and Tafel slope values of metallic phases and edges9 of two-dimensional (2D) TMDs approach those of Pt. However, the overall current density of 2D TMD catalysts remains orders of magnitude lower (~10–100 mA cm−2) than industrial Pt and Ir electrolysers (>1,000 mA cm−2)10,11. Here, we report the synthesis of the metallic 2H phase of niobium disulfide with additional niobium (2H Nb1+xS2, where x is ~0.35)12 as a HER catalyst with current densities of >5,000 mA cm−2 at ~420 mV versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. We find the exchange current density at 0 V for 2H Nb1.35S2 to be ~0.8 mA cm−2, corresponding to a turnover frequency of ~0.2 s−1. We demonstrate an electrolyser based on a 2H Nb1+ xS2 cathode that can generate current densities of 1,000 mA cm−2. Our theoretical results reveal that 2H Nb1+ xS2 with Nb-terminated surface has free energy for hydrogen adsorption that is close to thermoneutral, facilitating HER. Therefore, 2H Nb1+ xS2 could be a viable catalyst for practical electrolysers.",
author = "Jieun Yang and Mohmad, {Abdul Rahman} and Yan Wang and Raymond Fullon and Xiuju Song and Fang Zhao and Ibrahim Bozkurt and Mathias Augustin and Santos, {Elton J.G.} and Shin, {Hyeon Suk} and Wenjing Zhang and Damien Voiry and Jeong, {Hu Young} and Manish Chhowalla",
year = "2019",
month = "1",
day = "1",
doi = "10.1038/s41563-019-0463-8",
language = "English",
journal = "Nature Materials",
issn = "1476-1122",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ultrahigh-current-density niobium disulfide catalysts for hydrogen evolution

AU - Yang, Jieun

AU - Mohmad, Abdul Rahman

AU - Wang, Yan

AU - Fullon, Raymond

AU - Song, Xiuju

AU - Zhao, Fang

AU - Bozkurt, Ibrahim

AU - Augustin, Mathias

AU - Santos, Elton J.G.

AU - Shin, Hyeon Suk

AU - Zhang, Wenjing

AU - Voiry, Damien

AU - Jeong, Hu Young

AU - Chhowalla, Manish

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - Metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)1–8 are good catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The overpotential and Tafel slope values of metallic phases and edges9 of two-dimensional (2D) TMDs approach those of Pt. However, the overall current density of 2D TMD catalysts remains orders of magnitude lower (~10–100 mA cm−2) than industrial Pt and Ir electrolysers (>1,000 mA cm−2)10,11. Here, we report the synthesis of the metallic 2H phase of niobium disulfide with additional niobium (2H Nb1+xS2, where x is ~0.35)12 as a HER catalyst with current densities of >5,000 mA cm−2 at ~420 mV versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. We find the exchange current density at 0 V for 2H Nb1.35S2 to be ~0.8 mA cm−2, corresponding to a turnover frequency of ~0.2 s−1. We demonstrate an electrolyser based on a 2H Nb1+ xS2 cathode that can generate current densities of 1,000 mA cm−2. Our theoretical results reveal that 2H Nb1+ xS2 with Nb-terminated surface has free energy for hydrogen adsorption that is close to thermoneutral, facilitating HER. Therefore, 2H Nb1+ xS2 could be a viable catalyst for practical electrolysers.

AB - Metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)1–8 are good catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The overpotential and Tafel slope values of metallic phases and edges9 of two-dimensional (2D) TMDs approach those of Pt. However, the overall current density of 2D TMD catalysts remains orders of magnitude lower (~10–100 mA cm−2) than industrial Pt and Ir electrolysers (>1,000 mA cm−2)10,11. Here, we report the synthesis of the metallic 2H phase of niobium disulfide with additional niobium (2H Nb1+xS2, where x is ~0.35)12 as a HER catalyst with current densities of >5,000 mA cm−2 at ~420 mV versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. We find the exchange current density at 0 V for 2H Nb1.35S2 to be ~0.8 mA cm−2, corresponding to a turnover frequency of ~0.2 s−1. We demonstrate an electrolyser based on a 2H Nb1+ xS2 cathode that can generate current densities of 1,000 mA cm−2. Our theoretical results reveal that 2H Nb1+ xS2 with Nb-terminated surface has free energy for hydrogen adsorption that is close to thermoneutral, facilitating HER. Therefore, 2H Nb1+ xS2 could be a viable catalyst for practical electrolysers.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071226256&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85071226256&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41563-019-0463-8

DO - 10.1038/s41563-019-0463-8

M3 - Letter

JO - Nature Materials

JF - Nature Materials

SN - 1476-1122

ER -

Access to Document