Citation: Yongwei ZHANG, Chuang ZHU, Wenbin WU, Yongyong MA, Heng YANG. Efficient hydrogen evolution reaction activity induced by ZnSe@nitrogen doped porous carbon heterojunction[J]. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, ;2025, 41(4): 650-660. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240386 shu

Efficient hydrogen evolution reaction activity induced by ZnSe@nitrogen doped porous carbon heterojunction

Yongwei ZHANG ^1,, ,
Chuang ZHU ^{1, 2} ,
Wenbin WU ¹ ,
Yongyong MA ² ,
Heng YANG ^{1, 2}

1.
School of Engineering, Qinghai Institute of Technology, Xining 810016, China
2.
School of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China

Corresponding author: Yongwei ZHANG, zhangyongwei@qhit.edu.cn; 390646795@qq.com
Received Date: 25 October 2024
Revised Date: 13 January 2025

Figures(8)

Zn nanoparticles-modified nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-C) catalysts (Zn@N-C) were prepared by a simple one-step pyrolysis strategy using Zn-based zeolite imidazolate framework (Zn-ZIF) as the precursor. Subsequently, the Zn nanoparticles were further converted to the ZnSe nanoparticles by using a selenization strategy; meanwhile, the heterostructure between the ZnSe and N-C was constructed to enhance the catalytic activity of the catalysts. The components, structures, and morphologies of as-prepared catalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X - ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical tests in water splitting systematically evaluated the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalytic activity and stability of the catalysts. Results showed that the morphology of the catalyst was transformed from a regular rhombic dodecahedron (Zn@N-C) to a structurally collapsed, folded, and deformed dodecahedron (ZnSe@N-C) by selenization, which increased the structural defects and introduced more catalytic active sites. Meanwhile, the existence of a heterogeneous interfacial structure between the ZnSe and N-C substrates was beneficial to the electron transport and improved the catalytic activity of the catalysts. ZnSe@N-C yielded a low overpotential of 165.8 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm^-2 in the HER process, which was superior to that of Zn@N-C (190.8 mV). ZnSe@N-C also demonstrated good electrochemical stability in an alkaline solution.
- hydrogen evolution reaction,
- selenization,
- ZnSe,
- nitrogen-doped porous carbon,
- catalyst
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