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Transition metal dichalcogenides as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction: The emblematic case of 'inert' ZrSe2 as catalyst for electrolyzers

Authors :
Leyla Najafi
Sebastiano Bellani
Marilena I. Zappia
Michele Serri
Reinier Oropesa‐Nuñez
Ahmad Bagheri
Hossein Beydaghi
Rosaria Brescia
Lea Pasquale
Dipak V. Shinde
Yong Zuo
Filippo Drago
Kseniia Mosina
Zdeněk Sofer
Liberato Manna
Francesco Bonaccorso
Source :
Nano Select, Vol 3, Iss 6, Pp 1069-1081 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Wiley-VCH, 2022.

Abstract

Abstract The development of earth‐abundant electrocatalysts (ECs) operating at high current densities in water splitting electrolyzers is pivotal for the widespread use of the current green hydrogen production plants. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged as promising alternatives to the most efficient noble metal ECs, leading to a wealth of research. Some strategies based on material nanostructuring and hybridization, introduction of defects and chemical/physical modifications appeared as universal approaches to provide catalytic properties to TMDs, regardless of the specific material. In this work, we show that even a theoretically poorly catalytic (and poorly studied) TMD, namely zirconium diselenide (ZrSe2), can act as an efficient EC for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) when exfoliated in the form of two‐dimensional (2D) few‐layer flakes. We critically show the difficulties of explaining the catalytic mechanisms of the resulting ECs in the presence of complex structural and chemical modifications, which are nevertheless evaluated extensively. By doing so, we also highlight the easiness of transforming 2D TMDs into effective HER‐ECs. To strengthen our message in practical environments, we report ZrSe2‐based acidic (proton exchange membrane [PEM]) and alkaline water electrolyzers operating at 400 mA cm–2 at a voltage of 1.88 and 1.92 V, respectively, thus competing with commercial technologies.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26884011
Volume :
3
Issue :
6
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Nano Select
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.38cc9b1dc4454ba6bc1075202b4c6904
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/nano.202100364