TRANSITION METAL BASED COMPOUNDS FOR EFFICIENT WATER SPLITTING: FROM SUBSTRATE MATERIALS TO ACTIVE SPECIES

Abstract

Water splitting has been considered as one of the most promising methods to produce renewable energy resources. However, practical potential is far from the ideal potential due to kinetic hindrances. Despite intensive research efforts have been devoted, there still exists lots of challenges towards efficient electrocatalysts, and some issues still need to be further investigated. In this project, water splitting electrocatalysts are investigated based on the transition metal-based compounds from substrate materials and active species. Firstly, efficient substrate materials are developed, and the bubble release behavior within electrode structure are further investigated (Chapter 3-4). Besides, a facile strategy to improve the activity of transition metal phosphide for HER and the reaction mechanism of the enhanced activity are investigated (Chapter 5). Lastly, an excellent OER electrocatalyst is obtained by electro-oxidation of transition metal selenides. The reaction mechanism and in situ evolution of NiSe2 during OER are further studied (Chapter 6).