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Transition-Metal (Fe, Co, and Ni)-Based Nanofiber Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting

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Abstract

Electrochemical water splitting is a fascinating technology for sustainable hydrogen production, and electrocatalysts are essential to accelerate the sluggish hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER). Transition-metal-based electrocatalysts have attracted enormous interests due to the abundant resources, low cost, and comparable catalytic performance to noble metals. Among these studies, fibrous materials possess distinct advantages, such as unique structure, high active surface area, and fast electron transport. Herein, the most recent progress of nanofiber electrocatalysts on synthesis and application in HER and OER is summarized, with emphasis on iron-, cobalt-, and nickel-based materials. Moreover, the challenge and prospects of fibrous-structured electrocatalysts on water splitting is provided.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [22]; Copyright 2019 Wiley–VCH. f Schematic illustration of the sequential fabrication step for the Co/CoP@NC nanofibers. g PXRD of Co/CoP@NC nanofibers. h TEM images of Co/CoP@NC nanofibers. f–h Reproduced with permission from Ref. [27]; Copyright 2018 Elsevier

Fig. 3

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [28]; Copyright 2018 Wiley. g Preparation of a representative composite SFCNF/Co1-xS@CoN as electrode material for overall water splitting. h HRTEM images of composite SFCNF/Co1-xS@CoN. i LSV curves in 1.0 M of KOH electrolyte. j XPS spectra of Co 2p of composite SFCNF/Co1-xS@CoN. g-j Reproduced with permission from Ref. [42]; Copyright 2020 Wiley

Fig. 4

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [49]; Copyright 2020 Elsevier. b Schematic illustration of the fabrication process of the PO-Ni/Ni–N-CNFs catalyst. b Reproduced with permission from Ref. [52]; Copyright 2018 Elsevier. c Schematic illustration of the “impregnation-carbonization-acidification” process for scalable fabrication of Co SA@NCF/CNF film as flexible air cathode in a wearable Zn-air battery. d Digital photos of highly flexible Co SA@NCF/CNF under rolling, bending, and twisting state. c, d Reproduced with permission from Ref. [59]; Copyright 2019 Wiley

Fig. 5

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [85]; Copyright 2020 American Chemical Society. d Schematic diagram illustration of the preparation processes for the CuCo2S4 NSs@N-CNFs film. e OER polarization curves of CuCo2S4 NSs@N-CNFs film and the as-prepared four samples. d, e Reproduced with permission from Ref. [88]; Copyright 2019 Wiley–VCH

Fig. 6

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [91]; Copyright 2017 Springer Nature. f Schematic illustration of the synthesis of heteroatom-doped carbon nanofiber derived from core–shell PAN@ZIF-67 fiber. SEM images of g PAN/PVP/Co(acac)2 fiber, h PAN@ZIF-67–400 fiber, i PAN@ZIF-67–80 fiber, and j PAN/ZIF-67 fiber. Insets in (g, h) are digital photos, (i, j) are enlarged SEM images. k Schematic illustration of morphology evolution in PAN@ZIF-67 fiber. f–k Reproduced with permission from Ref. [101]; Copyright 2018 Wiley

Fig. 7

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [108]; Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52025013, 51622102), Ministry of Science and Technology of China MOST (2018YFB1502101), the 111 Project (B12015), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China

    Xuejie Cao, Tongzhou Wang & Lifang Jiao

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  1. Xuejie Cao
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  2. Tongzhou Wang
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Correspondence to Lifang Jiao.

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Cao, X., Wang, T. & Jiao, L. Transition-Metal (Fe, Co, and Ni)-Based Nanofiber Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting. Adv. Fiber Mater. 3, 210–228 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42765-021-00065-z

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