Co doping modulates the electronic structure of nickel diselenide and promotes the simultaneous occurrence of glycerol oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions

Abstract

Using the glycerol oxidation reaction as an alternative to the traditional water oxidation reaction to reduce the required potential and accelerate the electrocatalytic process is an effective strategy for lowering energy consumption. In this study, a simple one-step hydrothermal method was employed to prepare a 10% Co–NiSe₂ bifunctional catalyst that is applicable to both the hydrogen evolution reaction and glycerol oxidation reaction. In the hydrogen evolution reaction, 10% Co-doped NiSe₂ requires 153 mV less overpotential than undoped NiSe₂ to achieve a current density of 20 mA cm⁻². The introduction of cobalt (Co) reduced the overpotential of the catalyst by 153 mV in the glycerol oxidation reaction, achieving selective conversion of glycerol to formate. The modified electrode exhibited higher catalytic activity, higher current density, and improved cycling stability, which can be attributed to the increased active sites on the material's surface and the optimization of its electronic structure due to cobalt doping. These characteristics make the 10% Co–NiSe₂ self-supported electrode a promising non-precious metal-based electrocatalyst suitable for efficient and energy-saving electrocatalytic systems, particularly in the fields of water splitting for hydrogen production and the selective oxidation of organic compounds.