NiO/RuO<sub>2</sub> p–n Heterojunction Nanofoam as a High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Desulfurization and Concurrent Hydrogen Evolution
Hao Wu, Cong Wang, Yujie Ma, Sirui Huang, Yilun Ren, Fan Ding, Fengqi Li, Yurong Yang, Jian Gu, Shaochun Tang, Xiangkang Meng
Abstract
The development of bifunctional electrocatalysts with excellent performance in both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and sulfide oxidation reaction (SOR) remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we experimentally synthesize a NiO/RuO 2 p–n heterojunction nanofoam that exhibits highly desirable electrocatalytic properties for both the HER and the SOR. We further design an electrolytic cell by pairing alkaline HER with SOR utilizing the NiO/RuO 2 heterojunction nanofoam as both the anode and the cathode, which demands a low applied voltage of 0.846 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm –2 . Density functional theory calculations confirm that the formation of the NiO/RuO 2 p–n heterojunction nanofoam effectively regulates the electronic structure, thereby boosting the electrocatalytic performances for both HER and SOR. This work not only provides a novel strategy to prepare an efficient and stable nanofoam electrocatalyst for hydrogen production but also highlights the potential application of oxide heterojunction electrocatalysts in treating sulfur-containing waste liquid.