Surface engineering of carbon-coated cobalt-doped nickel phosphides bifunctional electrocatalyst for boosting 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution

Miaomiao Xing; Deliang Zhang; Dongzheng Liu; Caixia Song; Debao Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.091

Surface engineering of carbon-coated cobalt-doped nickel phosphides bifunctional electrocatalyst for boosting 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2023 Jan;629(Pt B):451-460. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.091. Epub 2022 Sep 22.

Authors

Miaomiao Xing¹, Deliang Zhang¹, Dongzheng Liu¹, Caixia Song², Debao Wang³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science (MOE), and College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, PR China.
² College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, PR China. Electronic address: songcaixia@qust.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science (MOE), and College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, PR China. Electronic address: dbwang@qust.edu.cn.

PMID: 36166970
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.091

Abstract

Multiple surface/interface engineering is an effective approach to develop efficient electrocatalysts for promoting the practical application of electrocatalysis and achieving carbon neutrality. Herein, a deep eutectic liquid precursor containing phosphorus was designed. The self-supported three-dimensional (3D) cobalt-doped Ni₁₂P₅/Ni₃P nanowire networks coated with a thin layer of carbon (Co-Ni_xP@C) were prepared by using an in-situ one-step pyrolysis method. The as-obtained Co-Ni_xP@C hybrid possesses a superaerophobic/superhydrophilic surface, which could promote electrolyte diffusion and enhance bubble release. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Co-doping in Ni_xP@C can promote the adsorption and activation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) molecules, and optimize the energy barrier of H* absorption. The self-supported Co-Ni_xP@C was used as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for HMF oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a 1.0 M KOH solution. A nearly 100 % yield of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) was achieved. The self-supported Co-Ni_xP@C displayed high activity and stability for both HER and HMF conversion. The HMF oxidation coupled with HER can be efficiently driven by a 1.5 V commercial photovoltaic panel under sunlight. This study lays the foundation for large-scale industrialization in sustainable fine-chemical and energy engineering.

Keywords: 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation; Cobalt doping; Electrocatalysis; Hydrogen evolution; Nanowire networks; Nickel phosphides.