Carbon-wrapped iron nitride nanoparticles: A cost-effective strategy for bifunctional electrocatalysts with enhanced HER and OER performance

IF 4.3 3区材料科学 Q2 MATERIALS SCIENCE, COATINGS & FILMS

Diamond and Related Materials Pub Date : 2025-05-07 DOI:10.1016/j.diamond.2025.112414

Kumaresan Lakshmanan , Vasanthi Palanisamy , Thammasak Rojviroon , Orawan Rojviroon , Sanya Sirivithayapakorn

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Abstract

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising method for clean hydrogen production, requiring durable, efficient, and cost-effective electrocatalysts to replace noble metals. Carbon plays a critical role in enhancing the electrochemical activity and stability of catalysts. In this study, a cost-effective method for synthesizing crystalline carbon-wrapped iron nitride (CW@Fe₂N) nanoparticles (NPs) is presented, showcasing their exceptional bifunctional electrocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and overall water splitting. The CW@Fe₂N NPs were thoroughly characterized to analyze their morphology, crystal structure, chemical composition, and surface properties, revealing a robust core-shell structure with carbon encapsulation. This crystalline carbon layer not only enhances catalytic activity but also improves the stability of the nanoparticles under electrochemical conditions. To benchmark performance, carbon-wrapped iron nanoparticles (CW@Fe NPs) were also synthesized and tested. Electrochemical analysis in alkaline media demonstrated the superior bifunctional electrocatalytic activity of CW@Fe₂N NPs, achieving current densities of 10 mA cm⁻² at overpotentials of 205 mV for OER and 94 mV for HER. The outstanding performance is attributed to the synergistic interaction between iron nitride and the crystalline carbon shell, which facilitates charge transfer and provides structural integrity. Additionally, the CW@Fe₂N catalyst exhibited excellent energy efficiency in a two-electrode system, maintaining a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² with a cell voltage of just 1.567 V. These findings highlight the potential of CW@Fe₂N NPs as scalable and highly effective electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production through water splitting.

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碳包覆氮化铁纳米颗粒：具有增强HER和OER性能的双功能电催化剂的成本效益策略

电化学水分解是一种很有前途的清洁制氢方法，需要耐用、高效、经济的电催化剂来取代贵金属。碳对提高催化剂的电化学活性和稳定性起着至关重要的作用。在这项研究中，提出了一种低成本合成晶体碳包裹氮化铁纳米颗粒（CW@Fe2N）的方法，展示了它们在析氢反应（HER）、析氧反应（OER）和整体水分解方面的特殊双功能电催化性能。对CW@Fe2N NPs进行了彻底的表征，分析了它们的形态、晶体结构、化学成分和表面性质，揭示了碳包封的坚固的核壳结构。这种晶体碳层不仅提高了纳米颗粒的催化活性，而且提高了纳米颗粒在电化学条件下的稳定性。为了达到基准性能，还合成并测试了碳包裹铁纳米颗粒（CW@Fe NPs）。在碱性介质中的电化学分析表明CW@Fe2N NPs具有优异的双功能电催化活性，在过电位205 mV和94 mV下，OER和HER的电流密度分别达到10 mA cm - 2和10 mA cm - 2。这种优异的性能归功于氮化铁与结晶碳壳之间的协同作用，促进了电荷的转移，并提供了结构的完整性。此外，CW@Fe2N催化剂在双电极系统中表现出优异的能量效率，在电池电压仅为1.567 V的情况下保持了10 mA cm−2的电流密度。这些发现突出了CW@Fe2N NPs作为可扩展和高效的电催化剂的潜力，可通过水裂解可持续制氢。

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来源期刊

Diamond and Related Materials 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

6.00

自引率

14.60%

发文量

702

审稿时长

2.1 months

期刊介绍： DRM is a leading international journal that publishes new fundamental and applied research on all forms of diamond, the integration of diamond with other advanced materials and development of technologies exploiting diamond. The synthesis, characterization and processing of single crystal diamond, polycrystalline films, nanodiamond powders and heterostructures with other advanced materials are encouraged topics for technical and review articles. In addition to diamond, the journal publishes manuscripts on the synthesis, characterization and application of other related materials including diamond-like carbons, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and boron and carbon nitrides. Articles are sought on the chemical functionalization of diamond and related materials as well as their use in electrochemistry, energy storage and conversion, chemical and biological sensing, imaging, thermal management, photonic and quantum applications, electron emission and electronic devices. The International Conference on Diamond and Carbon Materials has evolved into the largest and most well attended forum in the field of diamond, providing a forum to showcase the latest results in the science and technology of diamond and other carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and diamond-like carbon. Run annually in association with Diamond and Related Materials the conference provides junior and established researchers the opportunity to exchange the latest results ranging from fundamental physical and chemical concepts to applied research focusing on the next generation carbon-based devices.