Facile formation of highly active and stable hydrogen evolution catalysts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188137-B2
Application number	US-201916969779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2019
Priority date	Feb 15, 2018
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A method of forming a cathode for hydrogen evolution reaction includes: (1) providing a substrate; (2) forming a precursor layer covering the substrate; and (3) annealing the precursor layer to form an electrocatalyst layer covering the substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a cathode for hydrogen evolution reaction, the method comprising:
loading a substrate with carbon nanotubes or nanostructures comprising a metal;
forming a precursor layer covering the substrate by electrodepositing the precursor layer onto the substrate from a precursor solution comprising a salt of a first metal and a salt of a second metal, wherein the first metal and the second metal are different transition metals; and
annealing the precursor layer to form an electrocatalyst layer covering the substrate, wherein a combined time to perform the loading, the electrodepositing, and the annealing is about 5-6 hours.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a metallic foam, foil, or mesh.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first metal is nickel, and the second metal is chromium.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrocatalyst layer comprises nickel, nickel oxide, and chromium oxide.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor solution comprises a salt of a third metal, and the third metal is cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum, or tungsten.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of the first metal to the second metal in the precursor solution is greater than 1:1.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor layer comprises a mixed metal hydroxide comprising the first metal and the second metal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor layer comprises a mixed metal-layered double hydroxide comprising the first metal and the second metal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein annealing the precursor layer includes heating to a temperature in a range of 200° C. to 400° C.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein annealing the precursor layer is performed in vacuum under a flow of an inert gas.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein annealing the precursor layer is performed in vacuum under a flow of an inert gas and a flow of a reducing gas.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrocatalyst layer comprises a mixed Ni—NiO—Cr 2 O 3 structure.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of the first metal to the second metal in the precursor solution is about 5:1 or greater.

15. A method of forming a cathode for hydrogen evolution reaction, the method comprising:
loading a substrate with carbon nanotubes or nanostructures comprising a metal;
forming a precursor layer covering the substrate by electrodepositing the precursor layer onto the substrate from a precursor solution comprising a salt of a first metal and a salt of a second metal, wherein the first metal and the second metal are different transition metals; and
annealing the precursor layer to form an electrocatalyst layer covering the substrate,
wherein the electrodepositing is performed for about 2 hours.

Assignees

• Univ Leland Stanford Junior

Inventors

• Dai Hongjie
• Huang Jianan Erick
• Kenney Michael J
• Kuang yun
• Meng Yongtao
• Tian Xin

Classifications

• C25B1/04 Primary

  by electrolysis of water · CPC title

• C25B11/051

  Electrodes formed of electrocatalysts on a substrate or carrier · CPC title

• C25B11/091 Primary

  consisting of at least one catalytic element and at least one catalytic compound; consisting of two or more catalytic elements or catalytic compounds · CPC title

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title

• C25D9/06

  by anodic processes · CPC title