Issue 4, 2023

In situ formation of nickel sulfide quantum dots embedded into a two-dimensional metal–organic framework for water splitting

Abstract

The synergistic interaction between metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and transition metal sulfides (TMS) has been a research hotspot in the field of electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, nickel sulfide quantum dots@NiFe-terephthalic acid nanosheet (NSQDs@NiFe-TPA) composites were prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method. The size and crystal structure of nickel sulfides were easily modulated by adjusting the concentration of the sulfurizing agent. The in situ formed NiS/Ni3S2 quantum dots with grain sizes of around 5 nm were evenly dispersed on the surface of NiFe-TPA nanosheets, and the overpotential was only 219 mV at 10 mA cm−2, and 90% current density could be maintained at 1.5 V (vs. RHE) for 60 h. When the concentration of the sulfurizing agent was increased up to 0.15 mmol L−1, the as-prepared Ni3S2@NiFe-TPA exhibited an excellent HER performance. The overpotential is only 109 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2, and it was attenuated by 20 mV after a 60 h stability test at a current density of 20 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the overall water-splitting electrolyzer assembled with NSQDs@NiFe-TPA and Ni3S2@NiFe-TPA as anodic and cathodic electrodes exhibited a low cell voltage of 1.66 V at a current density 10 mA cm−2, and almost no attenuation was observed after a 60 h stability test. The outstanding electrocatalytic properties of the as-prepared catalyst are due to the synergy of nickel sulfides and 2D MOFs that offers abundant accessible active sites, rapid ion/electron transportation, and convenient O2/H2 release channels.

Graphical abstract: In situ formation of nickel sulfide quantum dots embedded into a two-dimensional metal–organic framework for water splitting

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
25 Dit 2022
Accepted
31 Kax 2022
First published
03 Qun 2023

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023,10, 1294-1304

In situ formation of nickel sulfide quantum dots embedded into a two-dimensional metal–organic framework for water splitting

J. Lin, H. Zhou, R. S. Amin, A. E. Fetohi, K. M. El-Khatib, C. Wang, L. Guo and Y. Wang, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023, 10, 1294 DOI: 10.1039/D2QI02279F

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