Efficient dual-function catalysts for triiodide reduction reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction using unique 3D network aloe waste-derived carbon-supported molybdenum-based bimetallic oxide nanohybrids

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 273; p. 119004
• Main Authors: Han, Feng, Yun, Sining, Shi, Jing, Zhang, Yongwei, Si, Yiming, Wang, Chen, Zafar, Nosheen, Li, Jingwen, Qiao, Xinying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.09.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: 3D porous carbon; Aloe; Bimetals; Carbon; Catalysts; Chemical reduction; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemistry; Electronic structure; Energy conversion; First principles; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Molybdenum; Molybdenum-based bimetallic oxide; Photovoltaic cells; Solar cells; Structure-function relationships; Synergistic effect; Triiodide reduction reaction; Work functions; Hydrogen evolution reaction; Triiodide reduction reaction; Molybdenum-based bimetallic oxide; Electrocatalysts; 3D porous carbon
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.119004

[Display omitted] •3D aloe waste-derived carbon supported Mo-based bimetallic oxides are prepared.•Mo-based bimetallic nanohybrids are used as dual-function catalysts in IRR and HER.•Mo-based bimetallic nanohybrids exhibit excellent catalytic activity and stability.•ZnMoO4/3D-AWC as catalyst in solar cell obtains a high device efficiency of 7.65%.•ZnMoO4/3D-AWC catalyst delivers a Tafel slope of 54 mV dec−1 in alkaline media. The development of highly efficient catalysts has attracted great attention in energy conversion field. In this work, a series of 3D network aloe waste-derived carbon (3D-AWC)-supported molybdenum-based bimetallic oxide nanohybrids (ZnMoO4/3D-AWC, Cu3Mo2O9/3D-AWC, and MnMoO4/3D-AWC) were synthesized via co-precipitation method. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of molybdenum-based bimetallic oxide and 3D-AWC, the catalytic activities of electrocatalysts for triiodide reduction reaction (IRR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) were enhanced. Solar cell with ZnMoO4/3D-AWC obtained device efficiency of 7.65%, comparable to that with Pt (6.74%), while ZnMoO4/3D-AWC catalyst delivered a Tafel slope (54 mV dec−1) in 1.0 M KOH for HER, which demonstrated a comparable property to Pt/C. In addition, the 3D-AWC-supported molybdenum-based bimetallic oxide nanohybrid catalysts exhibited superior electrochemical stability in IRR and HER. The catalytic mechanism was illustrated from electronic structure and work function by first-principle DFT calculations. This research provides a reference in designing high-performance catalysts for multi-domain energy fields.