Carbon nanomaterials for efficient oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions in water splitting: A review

Razu Shahazi, Amirul Islam Saddam, Md. Rakibul Islam, Md. Kawsar Mahamud, Mohammed Muzibur Rahman, Md. Mahmud Alam

Article ID: 8543
Vol 7, Issue 2, 2024

VIEWS - 901 (Abstract)

Abstract


Water splitting has gained significant attention as a means to produce clean and sustainable hydrogen fuel through the electrochemical or photoelectrochemical decomposition of water. Efficient and cost-effective water splitting requires the development of highly active and stable catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon nanofibers, etc., have emerged as promising candidates for catalyzing these reactions due to their unique properties, such as high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and chemical stability. This review article provides an overview of recent advancements in the utilization of carbon nanomaterials as catalysts or catalyst supports for the OER and HER in water splitting. It discusses various strategies employed to enhance the catalytic activity and stability of carbon nanomaterials, such as surface functionalization, hybridization with other active materials, and optimization of nanostructure and morphology. The influence of carbon nanomaterial properties, such as defect density, doping, and surface chemistry, on electrochemical performance is also explored. Furthermore, the article highlights the challenges and opportunities in the field, including scalability, long-term stability, and integration of carbon nanomaterials into practical water splitting devices. Overall, carbon nanomaterials show great potential for advancing the field of water splitting and enabling the realization of efficient and sustainable hydrogen production.


Keywords


oxygen evolution reaction (OER); hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); carbon nanomaterials; surface functionalization; optimization of nanostructure and morphology

Full Text:

PDF


References


Liu Y, Zhou D, Deng T, et al. Research Progress of Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts for Electrochemical Water Splitting. ChemSusChem. 2021; 14(24): 5359-5383. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202101898 Yu Z, Duan Y, Feng X, et al. Clean and Affordable Hydrogen Fuel from Alkaline Water Splitting: Past, Recent Progress, and Future Prospects. Advanced Materials. 2021; 33(31). doi: 10.1002/adma.202007100 Xie X, Du L, Yan L, et al. Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Environment: Material Challenges and Solutions. Advanced Functional Materials. 2022; 32(21). doi: 10.1002/adfm.202110036 Thao NTT, Jang JU, Nayak AK, et al. Current Trends of Iridium‐Based Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acidic Water Electrolysis. Small Science. 2023; 4(1). doi: 10.1002/smsc.202300109 Raveendran A, Chandran M, Dhanusuraman R. A comprehensive review on the electrochemical parameters and recent material development of electrochemical water splitting electrocatalysts. RSC Advances. 2023; 13(6): 3843-3876. doi: 10.1039/d2ra07642j Yadav D, Amini F, Ehrmann A. Recent advances in carbon nanofibers and their applications – A review. European Polymer Journal. 2020; 138: 109963. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2020.109963 Gaur M, Misra C, Yadav AB, et al. Biomedical Applications of Carbon Nanomaterials: Fullerenes, Quantum Dots, Nanotubes, Nanofibers, and Graphene. Materials. 2021; 14(20): 5978. doi: 10.3390/ma14205978 Riyajuddin S, Azmi K, Pahuja M, et al. Super-Hydrophilic Hierarchical Ni-Foam-Graphene-Carbon Nanotubes-Ni2P–CuP2 Nano-Architecture as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting. ACS Nano. 2021; 15(3): 5586-5599. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c00647 Majeed A, Li X, Hou PX, et al. Monolayer carbon-encapsulated Mo-doped Ni nanoparticles anchored on single-wall carbon nanotube film for total water splitting. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 2020; 269: 118823. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.118823 Xing X, Liu R, Anjass M, et al. Bimetallic manganese-vanadium functionalized N,S-doped carbon nanotubes as efficient oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction electrocatalysts. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 2020; 277: 119195. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.119195 Li W, Wang C, Lu X. Integrated transition metal and compounds with carbon nanomaterials for electrochemical water splitting. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2021; 9(7): 3786-3827. doi: 10.1039/d0ta09495a Yang D, Hou W, Lu Y, et al. Cobalt phosphide nanoparticles supported within network of N-doped carbon nanotubes as a multifunctional and scalable electrocatalyst for water splitting. Journal of Energy Chemistry. 2021; 52: 130-138. doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2020.04.005 Noor T, Yaqoob L, Iqbal N. Recent Advances in Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Evolution Reaction using Noble‐Metal, Transition‐Metal, and Carbon‐Based Materials. ChemElectroChem. 2020; 8(3): 447-483. doi: 10.1002/celc.202001441 Wang J, Kong H, Zhang J, et al. Carbon-based electrocatalysts for sustainable energy applications. Progress in Materials Science. 2021; 116: 100717. doi: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2020.100717 Sharma S, Agarwal S, Jain A. Significance of Hydrogen as Economic and Environmentally Friendly Fuel. Energies. 2021; 14(21): 7389. doi: 10.3390/en14217389 Ikuerowo T, Bade SO, Akinmoladun A, et al. The integration of wind and solar power to water electrolyzer for green hydrogen production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2024; 76: 75-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.139 Aslam S, Rani S, Lal K, et al. Electrochemical hydrogen production: sustainable hydrogen economy. Green Chemistry. 2023; 25(23): 9543-9573. doi: 10.1039/d3gc02849f Le PA, Trung VD, Nguyen PL, et al. The current status of hydrogen energy: an overview. RSC Advances. 2023; 13(40): 28262-28287. doi: 10.1039/d3ra05158g Rajalakshmi N, Balaji R, Ramakrishnan S. Recent developments in hydrogen fuel cells: Strengths and weaknesses. Sustainable Fuel Technologies Handbook. Published online 2021: 431-456. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822989-7.00015-9 Guilbert D, Vitale G. Hydrogen as a Clean and Sustainable Energy Vector for Global Transition from Fossil-Based to Zero-Carbon. Clean Technologies. 2021; 3(4): 881-909. doi: 10.3390/cleantechnol3040051 Wang J, Wen J, Wang J, et al. Water electrolyzer operation scheduling for green hydrogen production: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2024; 203: 114779. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114779 Zhang L, Shi Y, Wang Y, et al. Nanocarbon Catalysts: Recent Understanding Regarding the Active Sites. Advanced Science. 2020; 7(5). doi: 10.1002/advs.201902126 Asefa T, Tang C, Ramírez‐Hernández M. Nanostructured Carbon Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversions. Small. 2021; 17(48). doi: 10.1002/smll.202007136 Nemiwal M, Zhang TC, Kumar D. Graphene-based electrocatalysts: Hydrogen evolution reactions and overall water splitting. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2021; 46(41): 21401-21418. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.04.008 Ali M, Pervaiz E, Sikandar U, et al. A review on the recent developments in zirconium and carbon-based catalysts for photoelectrochemical water-splitting. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2021; 46(35): 18257-18283. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.02.202 Thamaraiselvan C, Wang J, James DK, et al. Laser-induced graphene and carbon nanotubes as conductive carbon-based materials in environmental technology. Materials Today. 2020; 34: 115-131. doi: 10.1016/j.mattod.2019.08.014 Eivazzadeh-Keihan R, Bahojb Noruzi E, Chidar E, et al. Applications of carbon-based conductive nanomaterials in biosensors. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2022; 442: 136183. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.136183 Yi J, El-Alami W, Song Y, et al. Emerging surface strategies on graphitic carbon nitride for solar driven water splitting. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2020; 382: 122812. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2019.122812 Shi LN, Cui LT, Ji YR, et al. Towards high-performance electrocatalysts: Activity optimization strategy of 2D MXenes-based nanomaterials for water-splitting. Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 2022; 469: 214668. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214668 Cong Y, Huang S, Mei Y, et al. Metal–Organic Frameworks‐Derived Self‐Supported Carbon‐Based Composites for Electrocatalytic Water Splitting. Chemistry – A European Journal. 2021; 27(64): 15866-15888. doi: 10.1002/chem.202102209 Zhang X, Zhang X, Yang P, et al. Transition metals decorated g-C3N4/N-doped carbon nanotube catalysts for water splitting: A review. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry. 2021; 895: 115510. doi: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115510 Chen Z, Wei W, Chen H, et al. Eco-designed electrocatalysts for water splitting: A path toward carbon neutrality. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2023; 48(16): 6288-6307. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.03.046 Ashok A, Kumar A, Ponraj J, et al. Synthesis and growth mechanism of bamboo like N-doped CNT/Graphene nanostructure incorporated with hybrid metal nanoparticles for overall water splitting. Carbon. 2020; 170: 452-463. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.08.047 Muzammil A, Haider R, Wei W, et al. Emerging transition metal and carbon nanomaterial hybrids as electrocatalysts for water splitting: a brief review. Materials Horizons. 2023; 10(8): 2764-2799. doi: 10.1039/d3mh00335c Song W, Li M, Wang C, et al. Electronic modulation and interface engineering of electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts toward water splitting. Carbon Energy. 2020; 3(1): 101-128. doi: 10.1002/cey2.85 Fan M, Cui J, Wu J, et al. Improving the Catalytic Activity of Carbon‐Supported Single Atom Catalysts by Polynary Metal or Heteroatom Doping. Small. 2020; 16(22). doi: 10.1002/smll.201906782 He Q, Qiao S, Zhou Y, et al. Carbon Nanotubes‐Based Electrocatalysts: Structural Regulation, Support Effect, and Synchrotron‐Based Characterization. Advanced Functional Materials. 2021; 32(11). doi: 10.1002/adfm.202106684 Tavakkoli M, Flahaut E, Peljo P, et al. Mesoporous Single-Atom-Doped Graphene–Carbon Nanotube Hybrid: Synthesis and Tunable Electrocatalytic Activity for Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions. ACS Catalysis. 2020; 10(8): 4647-4658. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.0c00352 Shahazi R, Majumdar S, Saddam AI, et al. Carbon nanomaterials for biomedical applications: A comprehensive review. Nano Carbons. 2023; 1(1): 448. doi: 10.59400/n-c.v1i1.448 Chandrasekaran S, Ma D, Ge Y, et al. Electronic structure engineering on two-dimensional (2D) electrocatalytic materials for oxygen reduction, oxygen evolution, and hydrogen evolution reactions. Nano Energy. 2020; 77: 105080. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105080 Gusmão R, Veselý M, Sofer Z. Recent Developments on the Single Atom Supported at 2D Materials Beyond Graphene as Catalysts. ACS Catalysis. 2020; 10(16): 9634-9648. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.0c02388 Wang S, Zhang J, Li B, et al. Engineered Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based Photocatalysts for Visible-Light-Driven Water Splitting: A Review. Energy & Fuels. 2021; 35(8): 6504-6526. doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c00503 Malik R, Tomer VK. State-of-the-art review of morphological advancements in graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) for sustainable hydrogen production. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2021; 135: 110235. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110235 Yuan S, Dai L, Xie M, et al. Modification optimization and application of graphitic carbon nitride in photocatalysis: Current progress and future prospects. Chemical Engineering Science. 2024; 296: 120245. doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2024.120245 Zhang Y, Wu G, Feng F, et al. Synergetic effects of in-plane and interlayer dual regulation on sandworm-like graphitic carbon nitride for high-efficiency photocatalytic performance. Optical Materials. 2024; 147: 114742. doi: 10.1016/j.optmat.2023.114742 Li W, Wei Z, Wang B, et al. Carbon quantum dots enhanced the activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction in ruthenium-based electrocatalysts. Materials Chemistry Frontiers. 2020; 4(1): 277-284. doi: 10.1039/c9qm00618d Yang S, Du R, Yu Y, et al. One-step electrodeposition of carbon quantum dots and transition metal ions for N-doped carbon coupled with NiFe oxide clusters: A high-performance electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution. Nano Energy. 2020; 77: 105057. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105057 Sher F, Ziani I, Smith M, et al. Carbon quantum dots conjugated with metal hybrid nanoparticles as advanced electrocatalyst for energy applications – A review. Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 2024; 500: 215499. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2023.215499 Zhu J, Mu S. Defect Engineering in Carbon‐Based Electrocatalysts: Insight into Intrinsic Carbon Defects. Advanced Functional Materials. 2020; 30(25). doi: 10.1002/adfm.202001097 Tao L, Wang Y, Zou Y, et al. Charge Transfer Modulated Activity of Carbon‐Based Electrocatalysts. Advanced Energy Materials. 2019; 10(11). doi: 10.1002/aenm.201901227 Majumdar S, Shahazi R, Saddam AI, et al. Carbon nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensor in biomedical application, a comprehensive study. Characterization and Application of Nanomaterials. 2024; 7(1): 4654. doi: 10.24294/can.v7i1.4654 Cozzarini L, Bertolini G, Šuran-Brunelli ST, et al. Metal decorated carbon nanotubes for electrocatalytic water splitting. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2017; 42(30): 18763-18773. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.06.101 Tafete GA, Thothadri G, Abera MK. A review on carbon nanotube-based composites for electrocatalyst applications. Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures. 2022; 30(11): 1075-1083. doi: 10.1080/1536383x.2022.2028278 Singh N, Jana S, Singh GP, et al. Graphene-supported TiO2: study of promotion of charge carrier in photocatalytic water splitting and methylene blue dye degradation. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials. 2020; 3(1): 127-140. doi: 10.1007/s42114-020-00140-w Zai SF, Zhou YT, Yang CC, et al. Al, Fe-codoped CoP nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene oxide as bifunctional catalysts to enhance overall water splitting. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2021; 421: 127856. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.127856 Zhao X, Fan Y, Wang H, et al. Cobalt Phosphide-Embedded Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water Splitting. ACS Omega. 2020; 5(12): 6516-6522. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b04143 Wang L, Si W, Tong Y, et al. Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4)‐based nanosized heteroarrays: Promising materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Carbon Energy. 2020; 2(2): 223-250. doi: 10.1002/cey2.48 Wu C, Xue S, Qin Z, et al. Making g-C3N4 ultra-thin nanosheets active for photocatalytic overall water splitting. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 2021; 282: 119557. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.119557 Zhang X, Jiang SP. Layered g-C3N4/TiO2 nanocomposites for efficient photocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction: a review. Materials Today Energy. 2022; 23: 100904. doi: 10.1016/j.mtener.2021.100904 Yu F, Wang L, Xing Q, et al. Functional groups to modify g-C3N4 for improved photocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution from water splitting. Chinese Chemical Letters. 2020; 31(6): 1648-1653. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2019.08.020 Choubey P, Sharma MD, Basu M. Sulfur/Nitrogen-Codoped Carbon-Dot-Modified WO3 Nanosheets toward Enhanced Charge-Carrier Separation in a Saline Water-Splitting Reaction. ACS Applied Nano Materials. 2023; 7(16): 18251-18261. doi: 10.1021/acsanm.3c03203 Sial QA, Singh R, Duy LT, et al. Nitrogen-doped carbon dot anchored 1-D WO3 for enhanced solar water splitting: A nano surface imaging evidence of charge separation and accumulation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2021; 46(64): 32546-32558. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.07.115 Li G, Huang J, Wang N, et al. Carbon quantum dots functionalized g-C3N4 nanosheets as enhanced visible-light photocatalysts for water splitting. Diamond and Related Materials. 2021; 116: 108242. doi: 10.1016/j.diamond.2021.108242 Wang Q, Cai J, Biesold-McGee GV, et al. Silk fibroin-derived nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots anchored on TiO2 nanotube arrays for heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation and water splitting. Nano Energy. 2020; 78: 105313. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105313 Shahazi R, Saddam AI, Majumdar S, et al. Advancements in water splitting for sustainable energy generation: A review. Characterization and Application of Nanomaterials. 2024; 7(1): 5834. doi: 10.24294/can.v7i1.5834 Dong Y, Han Q, Hu Q, et al. Carbon quantum dots enriching molecular nickel polyoxometalate over CdS semiconductor for photocatalytic water splitting. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 2021; 293: 120214. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120214 Xu H, Jia H, Fei B, et al. Charge Transfer Engineering via Multiple Heteroatom Doping in Dual Carbon-Coupled Cobalt Phosphides for Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 2020; 268: 118404. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2019.118404 Liu J, Yang X, Si F, et al. Interfacial component coupling effects towards precise heterostructure design for efficient electrocatalytic water splitting. Nano Energy. 2022; 103: 107753. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107753 Xu Q, Zhang J, Zhang H, et al. Atomic heterointerface engineering overcomes the activity limitation of electrocatalysts and promises highly-efficient alkaline water splitting. Energy & Environmental Science. 2021; 14(10): 5228-5259. doi: 10.1039/d1ee02105b Prats H, Chan K. The determination of the HOR/HER reaction mechanism from experimental kinetic data. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 2021; 23(48): 27150-27158. doi: 10.1039/d1cp04134g Zhang K, Zou R. Advanced Transition Metal‐Based OER Electrocatalysts: Current Status, Opportunities, and Challenges. Small. 2021; 17(37). doi: 10.1002/smll.202100129 Jiang WJ, Tang T, Zhang Y, et al. Synergistic Modulation of Non-Precious-Metal Electrocatalysts for Advanced Water Splitting. Accounts of Chemical Research. 2020; 53(6): 1111-1123. doi: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00127 Li D, Liu H, Feng L. A Review on Advanced FeNi-Based Catalysts for Water Splitting Reaction. Energy & Fuels. 2020; 34(11): 13491-13522. doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c03084 Ioroi T, Yasuda K. Highly reversal-tolerant anodes using Ti4O7-supported platinum with a very small amount of water-splitting catalyst. Journal of Power Sources. 2020; 450: 227656. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227656 Jeong S, Mai HD, Nam KH, et al. Self-Healing Graphene-Templated Platinum–Nickel Oxide Heterostructures for Overall Water Splitting. ACS Nano. 2022; 16(1): 930-938. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c08506 Pi Y, Xu Y, Li L, et al. Selective Surface Reconstruction of a Defective Iridium‐Based Catalyst for High‐Efficiency Water Splitting. Advanced Functional Materials. 2020; 30(43). doi: 10.1002/adfm.202004375 Chen Z, Duan X, Wei W, et al. Iridium-based nanomaterials for electrochemical water splitting. Nano Energy. 2020; 78: 105270. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105270



DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/can.v7i2.8543

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Razu Shahazi, Amirul Islam Saddam, Md. Rakibul Islam, Md. Kawsar Mahamud, Mohammed Muzibur Rahman, Md. Mahmud Alam

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.