Synthesis of bifunctional NiFe layered double hydroxides (LDH)/Mo-doped g-C3N4 electrocatalyst for efficient methanol oxidation and seawater splitting

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 312; p. 137203
• Main Authors: Du, Yufei, Zhang, Yichu, Pu, Xunchi, Fu, Xiaoying, Li, Xuan, Bai, Linqin, Chen, Yongjun, Qian, Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2023
• Subjects: Built-in electric field; Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR); Mo-doped g-C3N4; NiFe layered Double hydroxides (LDH); Oxygen evolution reaction (OER); Seawater; Mo-doped g-C3N4; Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR); NiFe layered Double hydroxides (LDH); Built-in electric field; Oxygen evolution reaction (OER); Seawater
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137203

To boost the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) of pristine NiFe-layered double hydroxides (LDH), the NiFe-LDH/Mo-doped graphitic carbon nitride (NiFe-LDH/MoCN) heterojunction was synthesized herein through hydrothermal method. The establishment of built-in electric field in NiFe-LDH/MoCN heterojunction enhanced the electrochemical oxidation activities towards both seawater splitting and methanol oxidation, via the improving electrocatalyst surface wettability and conductivity. Almost 10-fold enhancement of turnover frequency (TOF) and electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) than pure NiFe-LDH implied more active sites to participate in catalytic reactions via Mo doping and the formation of heterostructure. Moreover, the local charge redistribution demonstrated in the NiFe-LDH/MoCN interface region may favor the adsorption of methanol and OH− in the seawater. The present work may expound the strong coupling interaction and the establishment of built-in electric field in the interface between NiFe-LDH and semiconductor to enhance both methanol oxidation and seawater oxidation for NiFe-LDH.
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•The bifunctional NiFe-LDH/MoCN electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation and seawater oxidation.•Via built-in electric field, the catalyst exhibited excellent activity on OER and MOR.•ECSA and TOF for NiFe-LDH/MoCN were 10 times higher than NiFe-LDH.•The surface wettability and conductivity were improved by establishing built-in electric field.