Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2024, Vol. 56: 9-24.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(23)64571-1

• Perspectives • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A perspective on interface engineering of transition metal dichalcogenides for high-current-density hydrogen evolution

Xin Kang,1, Qiangmin Yu,1, Tianhao Zhang, Shuqi Hu, Heming Liu, Zhiyuan Zhang, Bilu Liu*()   

  1. Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2023-10-01 Accepted:2023-11-16 Online:2024-01-18 Published:2024-01-10
  • Contact: *E-mail: bilu.liu@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn (B. Liu).
  • About author:Bilu Liu is a full professor and principal investigator at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS), Tsinghua University, China. He received his bachelor’s degree in materials chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2006, and PhD degree in materials science from the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMR, CAS) in 2012. His research interests cover the chemistry and materials science of low-dimensional materials with emphasis on carbon nanostructures, two-dimensional materials, and their heterostructures. His work relates to the growth mechanism investigation, controlled mass production of these materials and their applications in energy, electronics, optoelectronics, and sensing.
    First author contact:1Contributed equally to this work.
  • Supported by:
    National Science Foundation of China for Distinguished Young Scholars(52125309);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52188101);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52303375);Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2022B1515120004);Guangdong Innovative and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program(2017ZT07C341);Shenzhen Basic Research Project(WDZC20220812141108001);Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School-Shenzhen Pengrui Young Faculty Program of Shenzhen Pengrui Foundation(SZPR2023002)

Abstract:

abstract: Water electrolysis for green hydrogen production is important for the global carbon neutrality. The industrialization of this technology requires efficient and durable electrocatalysts under high-current-density (HCD) operations. However, the insufficient mass and charge transfer at the various interfaces lead to unsatisfactory HCD activity and durability. Interface engineering is important for designing efficient HCD electrocatalysts. In this perspective, we analyze the processes taking place at three interfaces including the catalyst-substrate, catalyst-electrolyte, and catalyst-gas interfaces, and reveal the correlations between interface interactions and the challenges for HCD electrolysis. We then highlight the development of HCD electrocatalysts that focus on interface engineering using the example of transition metal dichalcogenide based catalysts, which have attracted widespread interests in recent years. Finally, we give an outlook on the development of interface engineering for the industrialization of water electrolysis technology.

Key words: Interface engineering, Electrochemistry, Hydrogen production, High-current-density, Transition metal, dichalcogenides (TMDCs), Membrane electrode assembly