非贵金属钴基硫族化合物的合成及其在氧电极催化中的应用研究

With the increasing worldwide energy demand and environmental concerns, the need for sustainable sources is growing stronger and stronger. Fuel cell has been paid more and more attention due to its excellent practicability and development potential. The major challenge associated with the practical application of fuel cell and water splitting batteries resides in the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen electrocatalysis (ORR and OER) resulting from the four-electron transfer process. At present, noble metal nanocrystals are still the most commonly used electrocatalytic material for fuel cells and water splitting regarding both its activity and stability. However, the high cost of noble metal is one of the most important barriers that limit the large-scale commercialization of fuel cells. Therefore, design and synthesis of efficient, stable, cheap, and abundant catalytic materials is pivotal to the development of sustainable energy sources for powering fuel cells. Based on this, we rationally selected non-noble cobalt based chalcogenides as the main research object. Using simple liquid phase synthesis methods, we can selectively synthesize a series of cobalt based chalcogenide materials with controlled morphology and structure. We will systematically study the performance of these materials in electrocatalytic reactions. Besides, hybriding these materials with other functional materials can modify their electronic structures, thus further enhance their electrocatalytic activity and stability.

随着全球能源需求和环境问题的日益严重，对可持续能源的需求越来越强烈。燃料电池因其优异的实用性和发展潜力日益受到高度重视。由于氧电极的电催化反应（氧还原反应和析氧反应）需要经过四电子的转移过程，其缓慢的动力学严重阻碍了燃料电池和水电解池的实际应用及发展。目前燃料电池和水电解池中最常用的电催化剂材料仍然是贵金属电催化剂，其大规模商业化应用的瓶颈仍是其成本昂贵。因此，设计合成出价格低廉、资源丰富的、高活性高稳定性的非贵金属催化剂是十分必要的。基于此，本项目拟选择非贵金属钴基硫族化合物材料作为研究对象，建立简易的液相合成方法合理制备一系列形貌、结构可控的钴基硫族化合物电催化剂材料，系统研究此类材料在电催化反应中的催化性能。此外，探索将这类材料与其它功能材料复合来调控其电子结构，进一步优化其活性和提高其稳定性。

随着世界人口的增长,以及工业化和现代化进程的加速,对可持续清洁能源的需求在持续快速地增长。氢气和氧气的电化学反应是发展可持续清洁能源技术的关键（如燃料电池、电解水等）。因此，开发廉价的、资源丰富的、高活性高稳定性的催化剂是十分必要的。基于过渡金属硫族化合物在多种电催化领域的潜在应用，我们设计合成了一系列形貌、结构可控的钴/镍基硫族化合物电催化剂材料，并系统地研究了此类材料在电催化反应中的催化性能。结合多种先进表征技术手段和理论计算，揭示了催化剂电子结构与催化性能的相互关系，为设计制备新型能源转换材料提供了新思路。