Iron-doped carbon nanotube catalytic material and application thereof in electrolytic hydrogen production
By preparing iron-doped carbon nanotube and FeOOH composite materials through a hydrothermal method, the problems of high cost of precious metal catalysts and insufficient activity of carbonaceous materials were solved, achieving low-cost and high-efficiency OER performance and improving the efficiency of hydrogen production by water electrolysis.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511215383.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing precious metal-based catalysts are expensive and scarce, carbonaceous materials have insufficient intrinsic OER catalytic activity, and FeOOH has low conductivity and is prone to aggregation, resulting in low efficiency and high cost of hydrogen production by water electrolysis.
Iron-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and FeOOH composite materials were prepared by hydrothermal method to form an interwoven nanostructure, which enhanced conductivity and inhibited particle aggregation, thus constructing a high-efficiency OER electrode.
It achieves low-cost and high-efficiency OER performance, reduces the complexity and cost of catalyst preparation, and improves the efficiency of hydrogen production through water electrolysis.
Smart Images
Figure HDA0005570105390000011
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of water electrolysis for hydrogen production technology, and more specifically, to the preparation of iron-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocatalytic materials using a hydrothermal strategy, and the application of this catalyst in water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Background Technology
[0002] Electrochemical water splitting is one of the technologies for producing high-purity green hydrogen using intermittent clean energy sources such as wind and solar power. However, because the overall efficiency of water splitting is controlled by a complex four-proton coupled electron transfer process, its anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) requires a considerable overpotential to achieve a substantial current density. Currently, noble metal (mainly Ru and Ir)-based catalysts exhibit excellent OER activity, but their high cost and scarce reserves severely restrict their large-scale development. Therefore, exploring resource-rich materials with excellent OER performance is crucial.
[0003] Current research focuses on synergistically developing low-cost, resource-rich non-precious metal materials to enhance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance through strategies such as composite material design, nanostructure manipulation, defect engineering, and electronic property modification. For example, while carbonaceous materials with high conductivity and structural stability (such as activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, graphite, and graphene) are widely used as electrode substrates, their intrinsic OER catalytic activity is insufficient. Therefore, researchers often use them as supports to load functional materials to construct highly efficient OER electrodes. Iron, as the second most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust (approximately 5.6%), has a much lower cost than transition metals such as nickel and cobalt, and iron hydroxyl oxide (FeOOH) has been proven to have excellent OER activity and stability. However, the low intrinsic conductivity and easy aggregation of FeOOH severely limit its application. Based on this, constructing stable heterostructures by combining FeOOH with highly conductive carbon materials can simultaneously enhance electron conduction and inhibit particle aggregation, thereby significantly improving OER catalytic performance.
[0004] This study prepared a carbon nanotube (CNT) interwoven iron hydroxyl oxide (FeOOH) composite material via a simplified hydrothermal method and used it as an anolyte catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The core of this work lies in coupling the carbon nanotubes with FeOOH, which not only enhances the overall conductivity of the composite structure but also forms an interwoven nanostructure to prevent potential aggregation of FeOOH particles. Based on these rational structural designs, the prepared composite nanomaterial exhibits excellent OER performance. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The technical problem solved by this invention:
[0006] Iron-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) catalytic materials were prepared using a hydrothermal synthesis strategy. Their excellent OER (oxygen evolution reaction) performance solves the problems of low electrocatalytic activity and environmental unfriendliness in the past. Moreover, the preparation process of this material is simple, and the raw materials are inexpensive and readily available. It avoids the cumbersome and complicated steps in the preparation of catalysts and reduces the cost of catalyst preparation.
[0007] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:
[0008] First, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were dispersed in a ferric nitrate solution and immersed in it. Then, they were placed in a hydrothermal reactor and kept at 110 degrees Celsius for 12 hours. After post-treatment, the final sample, Fe@CNTs, was obtained.
[0009] The details are as follows:
[0010] First, the present invention provides an iron-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) catalytic material.
[0011] The catalyst was used to treat carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with ferric nitrate solution, and lanthanum-doped and boron-modified nickel iron oxide (hydroxyl) compound self-supporting nanocatalytic materials were successfully obtained.
[0012] The reaction solution has the following characteristics: the molar concentration of the ferric nitrate solution is 0.1 mol / L.
[0013] Second, the present invention provides the application of the aforementioned iron-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) catalytic material in hydrogen production by water electrolysis.
[0014] Using a standard three-electrode system, with iron-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the anode, a mercury / mercury oxide electrode as the reference electrode, and a platinum sheet as the counter electrode, the OER was tested.
[0015] The Fe@CNTs obtained by this invention, for OER, have a value of 10 mA cm⁻¹ -2 The overpotential is 344mV. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 The graph shows the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) CV test results for Fe@CNTs. Detailed Implementation
[0017] To more clearly illustrate the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be described in detail below. Unless otherwise specified, operations will be performed under normal conditions or according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Unless otherwise specified, the manufacturers of reagents or instruments refer to conventional products that can be purchased on the market.
[0018] Example
[0019] The preparation method of iron-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) catalytic material includes the following steps: First, 0.5 g of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are dispersed in a 0.1 mol / L ferric nitrate solution. The CNTs are then transferred to the inner liner of a hydrothermal autoclave and maintained at 120°C for 12 hours. After removal, the CNTs are washed three times with deionized water and dried under vacuum at 60°C. The final sample is labeled Fe@CNTs.
[0020] Test case
[0021] 1. CV test
[0022] The OER performance of the catalytic materials in the examples was tested. The test conditions were as follows: In the OER test, a standard three-electrode system was used, with the self-supporting material as the anode, mercury / mercury oxide (Hg / HgO) as the reference electrode, and a platinum sheet as the cathode. The voltage window was set to 0-1V (vs. Hg / HgO) using a Corrtest Studio 6 electrochemical workstation from Wuhan.
[0023] Figure 1 The figure shows the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) CV polarization curves of Fe@CNTs. As can be seen from the figure, the material exhibits excellent OER performance after hydrothermal treatment. At 10 mA cm⁻¹ -2 The overpotential at the current density is 344mV.
[0024] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. An iron-doped carbon nanotube (CNTs) catalytic material, obtained by a hydrothermal synthesis strategy, characterized in that, 0.5 g of carbon nanotubes were dispersed in 0.1 mol / L nickel nitrate solution and transferred together into a polytetrafluoroethylene inner liner of a hydrothermal kettle. Further: 12 hours at 110 °C in an environment.
2. The application of the lanthanum-doped and boron-modified nickel-iron oxy (hydroxy) hydroxide self-supporting nanocatalytic material as an anode material in the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen.