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Journal of Advanced Ceramics 2021, 10(6): 1338-1349 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-021-0508-8
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 04 August 2021

Single-source-precursor synthesis of porous W-containing SiC-based nanocomposites as hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts

Show Author's Information Zhaoju YUa( ),  Kangwei MAOa,  Yao FENGb,c( )
College of Materials, Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramic Fibers (Xiamen University), Ministry of Education, Xiamen 361005, China
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Materialwissenschaft, Otto-Berndt-Straße 3, D-64287, Darmstadt, Germany
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China
Keywords:
electrocatalyst, hydrogen evolution reaction, single-source-precursor, W-containing phase, SiC-based nanocomposites
Cite this article:
YU Z, MAO K, FENG Y. Single-source-precursor synthesis of porous W-containing SiC-based nanocomposites as hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2021, 10(6): 1338-1349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-021-0508-8
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

In this paper, W-containing SiC-based ceramic nanocomposites were successfully prepared by a polymer-derived ceramic approach using allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS) as a SiC source, WCl6 as a tungsten source, polystyrene (PS) as a pore forming agent as well as divinyl benzene (DVB) as a carbon rich source. High-temperature phase behavior of the W-containing SiC-based ceramics after heat treatment was studied, showing that excessive DVB content in the feed will inhibit the crystallinity of W-containing nanoparticles in the final ceramic nanocomposites. The high specific surface area (SSA) of 169.4-276.9 m2/g can be maintained even at high temperature in the range of 1400-1500 ℃, due to the carbothermal reaction which usually occurs between 1300 and 1400 ℃. All prepared W-containing SiC-based nanocomposites reveal electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In detail, compared with reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), the ceramic sample PWA-2-1300 after heat treatment at 1300 ℃ has the smallest overpotential of 286 mV when the current density is 10 mA·cm-2 in acid medium, indicating the promising perspective in the water splitting field.


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About this article

Single-source-precursor synthesis of porous W-containing SiC-based nanocomposites as hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts

Show Author's information Zhaoju YUa( ), Kangwei MAOa, Yao FENGb,c( )
College of Materials, Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramic Fibers (Xiamen University), Ministry of Education, Xiamen 361005, China
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Materialwissenschaft, Otto-Berndt-Straße 3, D-64287, Darmstadt, Germany
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China

Abstract

In this paper, W-containing SiC-based ceramic nanocomposites were successfully prepared by a polymer-derived ceramic approach using allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS) as a SiC source, WCl6 as a tungsten source, polystyrene (PS) as a pore forming agent as well as divinyl benzene (DVB) as a carbon rich source. High-temperature phase behavior of the W-containing SiC-based ceramics after heat treatment was studied, showing that excessive DVB content in the feed will inhibit the crystallinity of W-containing nanoparticles in the final ceramic nanocomposites. The high specific surface area (SSA) of 169.4-276.9 m2/g can be maintained even at high temperature in the range of 1400-1500 ℃, due to the carbothermal reaction which usually occurs between 1300 and 1400 ℃. All prepared W-containing SiC-based nanocomposites reveal electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In detail, compared with reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), the ceramic sample PWA-2-1300 after heat treatment at 1300 ℃ has the smallest overpotential of 286 mV when the current density is 10 mA·cm-2 in acid medium, indicating the promising perspective in the water splitting field.

Keywords: electrocatalyst, hydrogen evolution reaction, single-source-precursor, W-containing phase, SiC-based nanocomposites

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Publication history

Received: 17 February 2021
Revised: 08 June 2021
Accepted: 11 June 2021
Published: 04 August 2021
Issue date: December 2021

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2021

Acknowledgements

Zhaoju Yu thanks the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51872246 and 52061135102) for financial support.

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