Publications by authors named "Ruo-Yao Fan"

Renewable energy electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen is an effective measure to break the energy dilemma. However, achieving activity and stability at a high current density is still a key problem in water electrolyzers. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs), with high activity and relative inexpensiveness, have become excellent candidates for the production of highly pure green hydrogen for industrial applications.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on improving the stability and performance of Molybdenum carbide (MoC) materials as catalysts for water-splitting, which have previously struggled with durability in alkaline conditions.
  • - A new method was developed to create Ni-doped MoC nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) that protect the reactive cores from corrosion and enhance catalytic properties.
  • - The resulting NiMoC-NCNTs show impressive oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance with a low overpotential of 310 mV and maintain stability for 50 hours, thanks to improved electron transfer between the nanoparticles and the NCNTs.
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The development of electrocatalysts that are not reliant on iridium for efficient acid-oxygen evolution is a critical step towards the proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) and green hydrogen industry. Ruthenium-based electrocatalysts have garnered widespread attention due to their remarkable catalytic activity and lower commercial price. However, the challenge lies in balancing the seesaw relationship between activity and stability of these electrocatalysts during the acid-oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

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Glycerol (electrochemical) oxidation reaction (GOR) producing organic small molecule acid and coupling with hydrogen evolution reaction is a critical aspect of ensuring balanced glycerol capacity and promoting hydrogen generation on a large scale. However, the development of highly efficient and selective non-noble metal-based GOR electrocatalysts is still a key problem. Here, an S-doped CuO nanorod array catalyst (S-CuO/CF) constructed by sulfur leaching and oxidative remodeling is used to drive GOR at low potentials: It requires potentials of only 1.

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The oriented distribution and strong bonding of Fe active sites in multiple metal hydroxides are crucial to modulate activity and stability for efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the dispersion and inevitable dissolution of Fe species still need to be addressed through deliberate design. Here, trace amounts of Fe chelated with tannic acid (TA) are precisely anchored to ultrathin Co hydroxides (TF@Co(OH)-t) through a new anodic interfacial coordination assembly strategy: firstly, the ZIF-67@Co(OH) precursor with ultrathin Co(OH) nanosheets vertically grown on the shell, provides abundant active sites and sufficient anchoring regions for subsequent TA-Fe coating; secondly, the TA-Fe ligand network quickly and robustly coats the surface of the Co(OH)via positive potential-driven chronopotentiometry, yielding TF@Co(OH)-t with good dispersion and controllable Fe species.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Heteroatom doping improves the electronic properties of transition metal phosphides, enhancing efficiency in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), but traditional methods can be complex and harsh.
  • - A new ion-exchange strategy allows for even doping of Mo and V into Ni-Co phosphides under gentle conditions while preserving their nanoneedle structure.
  • - Mo-doped NiCoP demonstrates superior performance compared to V-doped variants and even surpasses the activity of platinum catalysts, highlighting the potential of this method for developing effective catalysts.
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