Green hydrogen: MXene boosts the effectiveness of catalysts

MXenes are adept at hosting catalytically active particles. This property can be exploited to create more potent catalyst materials that significantly accelerate and enhance the oxygen evolution reaction, which is one of the bottlenecks in the production of green hydrogen via electrolysis using solar or wind power. A detailed study by an international team led by HZB chemist Michelle Browne shows the potential of these new materials for future large-scale applications. The study is published in Advanced Functional Materials.

Green hydrogen is set to play an important role in the future energy system: it can be used for storing chemical energy, as a raw material for the chemical industry, and for producing climate-friendly fuels. Green hydrogen can be generated in a nearly climate-neutral manner if the energy used for electrolysis — the process of splitting water into its elements — comes from solar or wind power. However, special catalysts are needed to speed up the formation of hydrogen and oxygen at the two electrodes. In particular, the oxygen evolution reaction is sluggish and would require significantly more energy without effective catalysts. Currently, such catalysts are made from precious metals, which are rare and expensive. For green hydrogen to be produced in the required quantities at a reasonable price, catalysts made from readily available elements are needed.

Flaky structures

At HZB, a team led by Michelle Browne is developing sophisticated alternatives based on so-called MXenes. MXenes are flaky structures made of carbon and so-called transition metals. Catalytically active particles can adhere to the inner surfaces of MXenes, thereby enhancing their catalytic effect. A new study in the journal Advanced Functional Materials now shows that this idea works.

The study's first author, Can Kaplan, used different variants of a vanadium carbide MXene as the basis for his research. He took the opportunity to conduct research at the laboratory of the Swedish partners at Linköping University during his PhD, as part of an exchange programme during his PhD.

The role of vacancies

“There, we synthesised two MXene variants: pure V2CTx and V1.8CTx with 10% vanadium vacancies. These vanadium vacancies ensure that the internal surface area of this variant is significantly larger,” explains Can Kaplan.

Embedding CoFe into MXene

In Michelle Browne's HZB laboratory, Kaplan developed a multi-step chemical process to embed Co_0.66Fe_0.34 catalyst particles into the MXene. Images taken with a scanning electron microscope show that this was successful; the pure MXenes have a pastry-like structure, but this changed significantly due to the incorporation of the cobalt-iron particles.

Best efficiency: CoFe in the vanadium deficient MXene

The team then investigated the effect of the different catalyst samples in use during electrolysis: pure iron-cobalt, and mixed with one of the two MXene variants. The results were very clear: also pure iron-cobalt compound acts as a catalyst. However, when embedded in MXene, the catalytic effect increased significantly. And the efficiency is further enhanced when the iron-cobalt compound is embedded in MXene with numerous vacancies.

Using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the SOLEIL synchrotron source in France, the team was able to track changes in the oxidation numbers of cobalt and iron during the electrolytic reaction.

Promising path to a new class of catalysts

‘We tested these catalysts on both a laboratory scale and in a much larger electrolyser,’ emphasises Kaplan. ‘This makes our results really meaningful and interesting for industrial applications.’

‘Currently, the industry has not yet considered MXene as a carrier material for catalytically active particles on the radar,’ says Michelle Browne. ‘We are conducting basic research here, but with clear prospects: on applications. Our results have now provided initial insights into the complex interplay between the carrier structure, the embedding of catalytically active particles and catalytic activity.’ MXene is a promising candidate for the development of innovative, highly efficient and inexpensive catalysts, Michelle Browne concludes.